Can two countries win in one FIFA ?

 

Tango, Telstar, Jabulani, Brazuca and the list goes on. So what are these names, any random guesses? For folks like me who are thinking these are some spicy Italian or Mexican cuisines the answer is huge “No” these names are crown of identity for both FIFA and Addidas, one of the most successful partnerships any sports industry could witness. And what cements them together is the “soccer ball” thus; these names are the names of the official FIFA world cup footballs manufactured by Addidas.  

Addidas has been the official football provider for FIFA for more than ten seasons. And “ace of craftsmanship” is their mantra for winning down the tenders of being FIFA’s ball supplier.  So, where and who does this phenomenal crafting and how Addidas reach them, opens up today’s learning on  Supply chain of footballs of  FIFA.

During 2014 FIFA world cup Addidas faced a huge demand of footballs which in turn imposed a huge demand from China who was a co-producer for Addidas till then. China lacking the factor of responsiveness made Addidas to turn towards Sialkot, the city of sports goods supplier. Sialkot, a small city of Punjab province, Pakistan not only fulfilled the demand but also firmly set its presence in the Brazil soil through “Brazuca”, the world’s most high tech football one has ever seen till 2014.

The productions of these grandiose balls begin through the Addidas procurement of artificial leather from China and these artificial leather sheets are piled together to reach different stitching units. In Sialkot almost 80% of the balls are hand stitched by native craftsman of Pakistan. Once the process of stitching is done it reaches the factory where the balls undergo heating, stamping, blow drying, taping and weighing.  After the production is over the balls are pressurized through rigorous testing to ensure it can withstand the kicks of goal keepers, defenders, mid-fielders and strikers. Finally, when once it is ready the balls bid goodbye to Sialkot and reaches the ports of Karachi from where they are set to be celebrated at FIFA, Olympics, European nation league and what not.

Sialkot balances the mix of efficiency and the responsiveness with its developing football manufacturing industries, precise art of ball making and with the huge availability of cheaper yet best craftsmen of the world. Followed by Brazuca Sialkot won the order from Addidas for manufacturing the “Telstar’ 18” (FIFA 2018 football) world’s highest technology football one has seen or heard or played with till date.  Today almost 70% (approximately 40 million footballs get’s exported annually) of world’s footballs come from Sialkot; which says 7 out of 10 balls speak the phenomenal story of Sialkot and its power on soccer game.  

One of the major up-gradation Sialkot is undergoing is the partial substitution the man made stitching into machine made stitching. And this technology up-gradation empowers the industry to scale up production rate to catch up the hiking demand of Sialkot balls. Thus, Addidas claim FIFA’s footballs by acclaiming Sialkot, the sports hub of Pakistan. When Germany won the title Sialkot won an astounding livelihood in same game of FIFA 2014 #Happy_Learning 3