Ningbo factories gear up for 2026 World Cup fever

World Cup-themed products. [Photo/Yongpai App]

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, a textile company in Ningbo is working at full speed to meet booming global demand for fan merchandise.

At the production workshop of Ningbo Heyuan Textile Product in Jiangbei district, workers are busy producing colorful supporter gear featuring designs inspired by national teams, including France, Mexico, and Canada.

According to the company, the most popular World Cup products this year include shoulder flags, hand-held flags and scarves. Unlike previous tournaments, the company has expanded its offerings from simple flag products to complete fan-support packages. These kits contain items such as face paint, clappers, drawstring bags, cup holders, mini footballs and national flags designed around popular teams expected to compete for the title.

The surge in overseas demand has led to a sharp increase in orders. The company expects to ship about 140,000 fan kits and more than 2 million flag products by the end of May. Orders for fan kits have grown five- to sixfold compared with previous World Cups, while flag orders have increased by around 10 percent.

Ye Kaifeng, a company executive, said participating in a major international sporting event is not only a business opportunity, but also serves as recognition of Ningbo's impressive manufacturing quality and advanced green production technology.