Jersey sales in Southeast Asia showed strong support for Argentina

Football fans in Southeast Asia cheered the loudest for Argentina for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, based on jersey sales in the lead up to the one of the world’s biggest sporting events, according to the iPrice Group.

In a research note, the Southeast Asia-based price comparison platform noted that 27 percent of the total jersey purchases for the said period had been for the national team of Argentina, which emerged victorious against France at the World Cup finals.

This was followed by Germany with 12.8 percent; Brazil, 12.7 percent; Portugal, 12 percent; and Japan, 8.7 percent.

“Argentina’s popularity could be due to the team’s impressive track record, with its rich footballing history including two previous FIFA World Cup victories, in 1978 and 1986,” iPrice said.

“Maybe the bigger draw, however, was that this year’s FIFA World Cup was Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi’s final World Cup. The talismanic ‘No.10’ – widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time – had been missing a World Cup from his trophy cabinet until now,” it explained.

The group added that “sentimental football fans may have bought this nation’s jerseys in appreciation of the football legend.”

iPrice observed that Japan was “growing” to become a Southeast Asian fan favorite as it ranked fifth on the jersey sales, outpacing “traditionally favored and recognizable European teams.”

“The jersey design itself may be a factor in its popularity, with Japan the only nation to release a special edition jersey for the 2022 World Cup. The color way is based on traditional Sakuramochi confection: a pink rice cake with a red bean paste center and wrapped in a cherry blossom leaf,” it explained.

Within individual markets, iPrice noted that France, England, Spain, Netherlands and South Korea had seen strong sales.

The group, for the study, observed regional trends of 32 participating countries at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The sales were tracked through e-commerce platforms in Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines from Sept. 21 to Nov. 21.