2026 World Cup Closer, China Factory Speeds Up Production of Flags and Jerseys
JAKARTA - Less than a month before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Chinese factories are starting to chase orders. Country flags, supporter jerseys, balls, and tumblers are flowing into the host country and global markets.
Citing a report by China Daily, Wednesday, May 13, the 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This is the first World Cup to be attended by 48 teams.
In Qingdao, Shandong Province, Qingdao Wonderful Flag Industry Co. is working full-time to fulfill orders for the flags of participating countries.
"On April 1, right after the last qualifying match was completed and the list of 48 teams was confirmed, orders immediately flooded in," said the company's chairman Xiao Chang'ai, quoted by China Daily.
According to Xiao, most of the flags of big teams such as Brazil, Argentina, and Germany have been produced and shipped before the end of March. New challenges arise when the tournament begins.
Because foreign buyers usually monitor the results of the match and then order almost directly. Many ask for delivery in just one or two days.
To meet the sudden demand, all production lines of the company run non-stop. Qingdao Customs recorded the company's daily production now exceeds 100 thousand flags of various sizes.
The surge also occurred at Ningbo Eco-will Technology Co, a manufacturer of luggage tags, ceramic cups, and tumblers in Zhejiang Province. The company's exports to the US, Canada, and Mexico rose 47 percent year-on-year to 40 million yuan or about 5.89 million US dollars in the first four months of 2026.
The manager of foreign trade at Ningbo Eco-will, Qiu Chunmiao, said the World Cup boosted sales of sports-themed products, especially tumblers with official team logos.
Ningbo Customs data shows that exports of sports equipment through the Ningbo port reached 5.74 billion yuan in January-April 2026. The figure was up 11.34 percent compared to the same period last year.
Researcher at the China Center for International Economic Exchanges in Beijing, Wang Xiaohong, said China's manufacturing strength lies in its flexibility in responding to the rapid demand of major events such as the World Cup.
Changes are also visible in Yiwu. The chairman of Yiwu Danna Silk Import and Export Co, Wen Congjian, said Chinese companies are now not only pursuing volume, but also value-added products.
"With patent protection, we can protect the design and raise the price of the product by about 20 percent," said Wen.
The company has bagged more than 40 overseas patents for the World Cup supporter jersey design. Yiwu Customs data shows that exports of sports equipment from the city reached 2.83 billion yuan in the first quarter, up 12 percent year-on-year.