Nike Forced To Improvise China's Kits On Short Notice Ahead Of Asian Cup

Nike was "caught off guard as the new sponsor" of China's national football team and "had to improvise kits and other equipment less than a week before the highly-anticipated Asian Cup campaign," according to CHINA DAILY. Nike struck a deal worth $16M a year to be the team's gear supplier until '26 after the China FA "ended its more than 30-year-old partnership" with adidas at the end of '14. Nike was "allowed to provide the new home shirts China will wear" at the Asian Cup. The design, though based on the "golden" fashion mantra "less is more," still drew criticism as "some thought it was incomplete without the dragon element, the traditional Chinese totem." Others supported Nike, "arguing that the Asian Cup demand came at a short notice for Nike as usually companies get a year to start preparations for tailor-made kits for their clients" (CHINA DAILY, 1/6).