The decked-up sports equipment section of a store. RIGHT: Custom-made soccer balls on display at a hypermarket in Doha. PICTURES: Jayan Orma

By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter


The 2014 FIFA World Cup, which got under way in Brazil yesterday, is giving retailers in Qatar a lot to cheer about.
Cashing in on the enormous following and popularity of the World Cup among residents here, the retailers are offering a wide range of sports gear and accessories, including soccer balls, footwear, schoolbags, caps, headbands and more, for football enthusiasts.
The availability of “affordable” goods from China and India in large numbers is also providing a huge boost to their business, it is learnt.
Gulf Times had recently reported on the high demand among football lovers for jerseys of the participating teams. There is a similar surge in sales for football gear, accessories and merchandise as well, say retailers.   
While the stores are selling a variety of football-related products to woo soccer fans, some of the hypermarkets have created a World Cup-like ambience and even “miniature grounds” where children can test their soccer skills.
“While China has been an active player since the beginning of the millennium in the sports apparel and accessories market, this year India, too, has come up with a range of products to win over the soccer-crazy expatriate population here,” a hypermarket official said.
He said besides jerseys of the top contenders, which are imported from China, apparel from India and Turkey are also drawing the attention of buyers this year.
It was found that some of the leading names in the Indian garment industry had supplied large quantities of football-related T-shirts, sold mainly for QR35-45. Such apparel from Turkey is retailed at similar levels, a company official added.
Among the key attractions are schoolbags, which have been designed in the national colours of teams such as Argentina, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Italy, France and England. Each of these Chinese-made bags costs QR29.
Soccer balls imported from Pakistan, a major producer of sports goods, are sold for QR49 and above. In addition, one can find mini soccer balls from India, which cost QR10.
Retailers said while most customers of World Cup-related products are Arab children, a growing number of Asian expatriates are also buying jerseys and accessories these days.