RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s national football teams are to wear Adidas kit exclusively for four years in a deal struck with the Saudi Arabian Football Federation.
From March, the German sportswear maker will be sole supplier of all training and match wear for the federation’s men’s, women’s, and youth teams.
The deal was announced during a high point for Saudi football, with a new generation of talent coming through elite academies and progress for senior teams.
This year, the Under-23 team won the AFC U-23 Asian Cup without conceding a goal and the Under-20s defended their Arab Cup title to claim back-to-back championships.
Saudi Arabia’s national women’s team was also established this year, while the men’s team will travel to Qatar for their sixth appearance at the World Cup finals after a strong qualification.
The sportswear form has also signed individual deals with Saudi footballers including national captain Salman Al-Faraj, Yasser Al-Shahrani, Abdulelah Almalki and Abdullah Otayf.
Adidas has also signed an individual deal with the women’s international and top scorer in the inaugural women’s football league, Farah Jefry.
The agreement will also bolster Adidas’s commitment to developing the women’s game and investing in grass-roots football to widen access and unearth gems of the future.
Over the last year women’s football in Saudi Arabia has been unleashed with a new premier league, first division, schools league and regional training centers all established. The new partnership will seek to accelerate that growth even further.
Bilal Fares, Adidas’s regional manager for the Middle East, said his firm was proud to have signed the deal.
“We believe that through sport, we have the power to change lives and we’re delighted to support the federation’s strategy to enhance access to women’s football across the Kingdom,” he said.
“The partnership (builds) on the brand’s wider ambitions to increase sports participation across the Kingdom in line with Vision 2030.”
SAFF President Yasser Al-Misehal said the SAFF was looking forward to the new kit partnership.
“Adidas respects our past, our present and admires our committed ambition to open up football to all. In the Kingdom football is a force for good and brings joy to so many, joy which is spreading to even more people thanks to the growth of women’s football,” he said.
“There is fresh energy and a genuine sense of optimism and excitement in Saudi Arabia, that Adidas believes in and wants to be part of. For the Saudi people, Adidas is synonymous with football and are looking forward to kicking off this relationship.”
The agreement gives Adidas commercial and advertising rights on the field and across the media.
