Challenger Brand Ousts Nike As Kit Sponsor Of Indian Football

The Gurgaon-based sportswear brand has been signed by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to takeover the long-term deal with Nike, which has existed since 2006. The five-year deal with Six5 Six will come into effect from the 2019 Asian Cup and involves a yearly fee of US$212k to US$283k to the AIFF’s coffers, an apparent upgrade from the Nike deal which was just in kind. It will also supply training apparel, footwear and equipment to national football teams, which include senior men’s and women’s teams and youth teams.

The deal was facilitated by IMG-Reliance-owned  Football Sports Development Ltd (FSDL), the commercial partner of AIFF. Six5Six has ongoing sponsorship deals with Indian Super League (ISL) clubs Kerala Blasters and Pune City FC. The deal also means the price of a Team India match shirt has been reduced significantly from about US$67 to US$22, making it easier for the average fan to invest in official merch.