Wen Congjian, chairman of Dannas Import and Export Company in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, displays newly designed fan jerseys for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

With more than 300 days to go before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, businessmen in Yiwu, East China's Zhejiang province, have already begun producing and exporting tournament-related goods.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico and the United States, is set to kick off next June. Owing to the event's long duration and vast global audience, market demand for related products is surging.

Traders in Yiwu, a bustling trade hub in East China, have spotted the commercial potential of the soccer tournament and are moving early to prepare sports merchandise.

Wen Congjian, chairman of Dannas Import and Export Company, said his company had already secured 20 design patents for fan jerseys, with over 10 more under review. "Although the full list of 48 participating teams has yet to be confirmed, we must act in advance," Wen said.

Wen also said that he sees the event as an opportunity to tap new overseas markets. "Our US customer base is relatively small, so we see the World Cup as a chance to expand into the American market," he added.

Currently, the Yiwu International Trade Market hosts more than 450 stalls for sports goods, which are sold to over 75 countries and regions. In the first five months of 2025, the export value of sports products and equipment hit 4.79?billion yuan ($670?million), a year-on-year increase of 16.6 percent.

Aya, a purchaser from Kazakhstan, noted: "In Kazakhstan, Yiwu-made medals are widely used in soccer, basketball, dance competitions and other sports events. Demand is very high."