October 6 – FIFA has turned the world spotlight on African cotton producers ahead of World Cotton Day to explore how football can help small producers in the Cotton 4 (plus) countries in Africa.
FIFA signed an MoU with the World Trade Organisation last year in a bid to explore ways in which football’s global appeal can be used to promote economic inclusion. FIFA’s commitment to World Cotton Day is an extension of this agreement, with the goal of using its worldwide influence to benefit the African cotton production industry.
The ‘Cotton 4 (plus)’ group, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, and observer-member Côte d’Ivoire, produces highly sustainable cotton using handpicking, rainwater irrigation, and organic fertilisers. That being said, they mainly export raw cotton rather than finished products.
Completing the field-to-fabric cycle within these nations could boost their share of the growing football apparel market, projected to reach $114.4 billion by 2028 from $82.3 billion in 2022.
“By bringing cotton and football together, we aim to use the visibility and impact of the beautiful game to promote access of the C-4 (plus) countries to the global sportswear value chain,” Céline Zigaul, FIFA’s Senior MA Relationships & Collaboration Services Manager, told delegates at World Cotton Day 2023 celebrations in Vienna, Austria.
“We would like to put the world’s spotlight on the region of west and central Africa. We also would like to contribute with our different partners towards developing the football sportswear value chain sustainably, then help to share the economic benefits of football in the C-4 (plus) countries. Finally, it’s all about people. We’d like to positively impact social development, particularly for women and youth, people who are the heart of the value chain from field to fabric.”
“Let me also say a special thank you to FIFA for their contribution and commitment to this work, and I look forward to jointly taking this work forward in support of the C-4 (plus),” Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO’s Director-General, said in the event’s opening address.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1735434495labto1735434495ofdlr1735434495owedi1735434495sni@g1735434495niwe.1735434495yrrah1735434495