2022 World Cup to create opportunities for business
Date: 2021-02-10
Qatar is now planning for a "normal" World Cup in 2022 after making rapid progress in COVID-19 control, according to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
Across the world, sports have resumed in front of limited or no crowds, but the vaccines have provided hope that crowds can return in large numbers this year.
In February, Qatar will host the coronavirus-delayed Club World Cup, an important test event ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi expressed cautious optimism about a normal and successful World Cup in 2022.
He also added that about 90 percent of infrastructure construction work related to the World Cup has been completed so far.
Previous World Cups have been proven beneficial to the economic growth of its host countries.
Criteo's research shows that the 2014 World Cup in Brazil contributed a 27 percent increase in local e-commerce sales and $16.6-billion in added value to the Brazilian economy.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar will undoubtedly attract the attention of fans around the world. Foreign media estimate that if the World Cup is held as scheduled, more than 1 million fans will flock to Qatar, and most tourists will take Dubai as a stopover and tour center.
In addition, many consumers around the world will prepare to cheer for the World Cup. In 2014, World Cup related products have already sold well seven months before the event started.
The best-selling products during the World Cup vary from country to country according to the previous World Cups.
For the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, Brazilian-style fashion items, such as cocoon skirts and tie-dye trousers, sold well. While in the United States, American consumers have seen a surge in online purchases of football and related products during the World Cup, such as cleats, balls, wrist guards, gloves, and other accessories.
However, products like football uniforms, sweatshirts, World Cup souvenirs, and cheering items sell well regardless of country, as well as coffee and eye drops that can help football-lovers to stay up late to watch the games live.
During the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart saw its sales of sports shirts increased by 20 times, 95 percent of which were football uniforms and fan T-shirts. From April to June in 2018, football-related products contributed 40 percent of the business growth of Indian fashion e-commerce company Myntra.
For foreign-trade enterprises that would like to make use of business opportunities provided by the 2022 World Cup, it is worth attention that to follow laws when producing World Cup related goods.
FIFA owns the copyright and trademark rights of all World Cup symbols, including the emblem, mascot, and official phrases like "FIFA World Cup". Only FIFA, as well as their partners and sponsors can use these symbols in commercial activities. It's an infringement if other unrelated third parties use the symbols for commercial benefits.
Moreover, it is forbidden for the World Cup logo to appear with the logo of unrelated third parties at the same time with the aim of making profit for the latter, even if it is printed on clothing or other products imitating or modifying the design of the World Cup symbol.
In addition, FIFA also expressly prohibits third parties from using official logos under circumstances that are "prone to misunderstanding by others who believe that FIFA has authorized this," such as allowing the World Cup logo to appear on the app launch screens of non-approved third parties.