| The football shirt market has exploded over the past | | | | several team designs to choose from, and each |
| few months as the world prepares for the FIFA | | | | carries its own particular reputation. Teams have a |
| World Cup football tournament this summer. Fans are | | | | specific character, and the fans of those teams |
| snapping up new designs as quickly as the teams can | | | | represent the character of their favorite clubs when |
| release them, and there is a booming online industry | | | | they wear their shirts. |
| devoted to tracking down the newest designs and | | | | International Teams |
| providing sneak peeks for fans who can't wait for | | | | Of course, Europe is not the only part of the world |
| the official release. The availability and relatively | | | | where the football shirt market thrives. Football is |
| inexpensive nature of replica football shirts makes | | | | one of the most popular sports in the world, and the |
| them highly popular among the hard core fans - and | | | | sales of football shirts is representative of that |
| those fans who only seem to watch during the | | | | popularity. There are football shirts available from |
| important games. | | | | teams in Japan, South Africa, and Cameroon to name |
| World Cup 2010 | | | | just a few. Even the United States has its own |
| One of the biggest forces driving the football shirt | | | | national football team and sells replica shirts to the |
| market right now is the upcoming World Cup | | | | fans, though the fans of football in the United States |
| tournament. The teams that have qualified for this | | | | are traditionally less passionate about the game than |
| premiere football event are all sporting new uniform | | | | other countries around the world. |
| shirts, and fans are anxious to represent their teams | | | | Sponsorships Cash In |
| by purchasing the new World Cup designs. From kids | | | | One of the main reasons that football teams like to |
| to grandparents, the World Cup brings out the | | | | be part of the football shirt market is because it |
| football fan in everyone, and has an added element | | | | allows them to make more money from |
| of national pride as the football team represents the | | | | sponsorships. Each team shirt proudly displays the |
| entire country. Wearing your team's World Cup shirt | | | | logo of the company that manufactured it, which |
| shows that you're a fan and a patriot. | | | | means that the fans walking around in the team's |
| European Teams | | | | shirts are walking billboards for the shirt company. |
| Even in non-World Cup years, the football shirt | | | | Advertising on sporting apparel has become normal |
| market remains relatively brisk. Football fans in Europe | | | | and expected, and it provides a little extra revenue |
| have several teams to choose from, and their | | | | for the team as well as some extra exposure for the |
| loyalties to their favorite teams are legendary. | | | | team's sponsor. With the widely televised nature of |
| Whether you are from Manchester or Barcelona, | | | | today's sports, commercialization of sporting events |
| you'll want to show off your team pride with a team | | | | has spread across every professional sport, and |
| jersey. From France to Italy to Germany, there are | | | | football is no different. |