November 11 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced an extension and expansion of its partnership with global sportswear brand Kelme.
Under the renewed agreement, Kelme will continue as the Official Global Supporter for AFC club and national team competitions from 2024 to 2029, and has now added the AFC’s revamped club competitions.
Since 2021, the Spanish sportswear company has provided official apparel and accessories for major AFC tournaments, including the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, the AFC U23 Asian Cups in 2022 and 2024, and various youth competitions. Kelme also supplied the match ball for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023.
The contract extension, formalised at a ceremony in Jinjiang, China PR, ensures Kelme’s involvement in producing apparel, accessories, and match balls for competitions such as the Asian Cup (2027), Women’s Asian Cup (2026), U23 Asian Cup (2026 and 2028) and the Futsal Asian Cup (2026 and 2028).
Kelme will also support the newly restructured AFC Champions League Elite, AFC Women’s Champions League, and AFC Champions League Two from 2025 onwards.
Datuk Seri Windsor John, the AFC General Secretary, said: “The AFC is delighted to not only extend, but also expand the strength of our partnership with Kelme to include our revamped club competitions, which reinforces the ever-growing reach, appeal and prestige of the AFC’s world-class competitions. We are proud of what we have achieved with Kelme thus far and we thank them for sharing our belief that the future of Asian football is indeed brighter than ever.”
Kelme chairman, Ke Yongxiang, said: “We are honoured to renew our strategic partnership with the AFC following the tremendous success of our previous collaboration. This next phase of cooperation expands from national team tournaments to include club competitions, deepening our partnership to create even greater value for Asian football. We look forward to KELME’s exceptional performance in the upcoming AFC Asian Qualifiers, AFC Asian Cup, AFC Champions League Elite, as we embark on this new journey together with the AFC.”
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734789164labto1734789164ofdlr1734789164owedi1734789164sni@g1734789164niwe.1734789164yrrah1734789164
