The French Football Federation (FFF), the governing body of football in France, has announced a long-term extension of its partnership with the American athletic apparel corporation, Nike.
The new agreement has ensured the sportswear giant will remain the official equipment supplier for all Les Bleus teams, including the men’s, women’s, and youth national teams, until 2034.
The extension goes beyond the professional and youth national teams. This partnership will also include a specific component dedicated to amateur football and referees, ensuring a wider range of French footballers benefit from Nike’s expertise.
The initial tie-up between the two parties began in 2011 and is set to expire in 2026. Financial details of the extended partnership were not disclosed.
Philippe Diallo, President of the French Football Federation, said, “I am particularly proud and happy of Nike’s renewed confidence in the FFF. The renewal of our partnership and the agreement reached position the FFF among the very leading sports organizations in the world. When I was elected, I made a commitment to ensure the sustainability of the FFF, in all its dimensions: societal, diversity, development of high-level practice, women’s football and amateur football. This partnership with Nike, with whom we share a common vision and objectives, gives us the means to actively contribute, at least for the next decade!”
Nike released a similar statement which said, “In fifteen years of partnership between Nike and the FFF, we are proud of what we have accomplished together. We look forward to continuing our partnership to serve as a catalyst for growth and investment in amateur football in France, accelerating the growth of women’s football at all levels, and further amplifying the FFF as an international icon performance and style.”
Founded in 1964, Nike is a global leader in athletic apparel and footwear. The company outfits athletes for peak performance while driving fashion trends with iconic sneakers like Air Jordans. This commitment to both performance and style resonates across various sports.
Recently, Nike signed with the German Football Association (DFB) and the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) as the official kit supplier. Beyond football, Nike boasts an impressive roster of global brand ambassadors, including sports royalties like LeBron James, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Tiger Woods. The brand has partnered with Smriti Mandhana, Prithvi Shaw, Ravichandran Ashwin, and Shubman Gill in India.
The extension comes at a significant time for French football. The men’s national team is gearing up for UEFA Euro 2024 and will face Group D’s challenges, including Poland, The Nederlands, and Austria, while the women’s team continues to climb the international rankings and is placed third in the world.