Nike, Puma and Adidas Fight it Out at the World Cup

March 21st, 2006 | by: WC Bob |

While you watch the teams they sponsor battle on the pitch, the uniform suppliers will be waging a marketing battle off the pitch to convince you that you need to buy their gear. Adidas has home field advantage in this contest, but the German company is facing a fierce charge from Nike and Puma. Adidas is the tournament’s official supplier of balls, referee gear and officially licensed World Cup bling-bling. But the three stripes will only be worn by six teams in the tournament. This puts it behind Nike’s eight teams and Puma’s twelve teams. Pity Marathon and Joma, they each only get to sponsor one team.

For those interested in the business side of things, this article breaks down how the apparel makers will duke it out to get into your wallet. For those who like to question my fashion taste, here’s what I think are the best and worst kits in the tournament. For those who are interested in what teams wear what, here is a list I have put together. For those who aren’t interested at all, there is always tomorrow. For those who want to buy uniforms, go here.

Adidas (6)
Germany
Argentina
France
Spain
Japan
Trinidad and Tobago

Joma (1)
Costa Rica

Lotto (2)
Serbia and Montenegro
Ukraine

Marathon (1)
Ecuador

Nike (8)
Brazil
USA
Australia
Croatia
Netherlands
South Korea
Mexico
Portugal

Puma (12)
Angola
Cote d’Ivoire
Czech Republic
Ghana
Italy
Iran
Paraguay
Poland
Saudi Arabia
Switzerland
Togo
Tunisia

Umbro (2)
England
Sweden