CHICAGO – The U.S. Soccer Federation and Nike Wednesday announced a new long-term agreement to extend its partnership that began in 1995.
The partnership is the largest commercial agreement in U.S. Soccer history and one of Nike’s largest soccer federation investments globally.
The press release announcing the agreement did not say how long the new deal was or how much money was involved.
The new agreement aligns with U.S. Soccer’s vision to make soccer the preeminent sport in the country. Nike and U.S. Soccer will focus on growing the women’s game.
This was the third commercial partnership signed by U.S. Soccer under the leadership of president Cindy Parlow Cone, CEO and secretary general Will Wilson and CCO David Wright.
“This strategic partnership is a sign of soccer’s importance in the United States and the value that both Nike and U.S. Soccer place in each other,” Parlow Cone said in a statement. “Nike has been such a positive partner for U.S. Soccer for a long time and has played a major role in the growth of the Federation as well as putting tremendous support behind many of our players over the years. To continue this partnership on such a high level, to continue to pursue the vitally important goals we both share and to have access to resources that will boost all areas of the Federation, are things that make us feel extremely positive about the future of soccer in the United States.”
The partnership renewal was grounded around four pillars to drive exponential growth for the game and positive social change.
They included:
* Driving inclusivity – Eliminating barriers to entry while impacting the grassroots ecosystem at scale
* Better planet – Showcasing sustainability efforts that contribute to meaningful change
* Global impact – Elevating the profile of the Women’s game domestically and throughout the world
* Sport of the future – Driving cultural relevancy through content, art and lifestyle
“Nike looks forward to building on our more than 25-year history with U.S. Soccer to shape the future of sport at all levels,” Becca Kerr, Nike VP and GM of North America Women’s said in a statement. “We want more kids – especially girls – to fall in love with sport because they had positive early experiences with soccer. Growing the game starts with investing in inclusivity.”
