This summer the FIFA World Cup will take place in Brazil for the first time since 1950. When football fever takes hold, it seems as though people will buy almost anything. Promotional experts Stay Sourced believe one of the most important factors for the World Cup promotion is merchandise. Companies from all over the world will producing merchandise to promote the event and there company. Just take a look at these five examples of weird World Cup merchandise from around the globe…
Korea/Japan 2002 Duracell Bunnies
Korea/Japan 2002 was the last time Brazil tasted victory on the world’s grandest stage, with the legendary striker Ronaldo bagging 8 goals to fire his country to success. The tournament was also notable for some frankly unusual merchandise, including dreadful mascots and their short-lived spin-off TV series. If you’re lucky enough to have bought one of the branded Duracell Bunnies available during the tournament, however, you’re in for a pleasant surprise – these plush pieces sell for as much as £250 on eBay today.
South Africa 2010 England Hamster Pouch
England’s campaign during the 2010 World Cup was noteworthy only for its woefulness, with a pathetic showing in the group stages paving the way for a 4-1 humiliation at the hands of Germany. Such footballing matters did nothing to dim the patriotic pride of promotional merchandisers, however, as items such as the St George’s Cross hamster pouch by Pets at Home ably demonstrated. Why subject the humble hamster to our national football woes?
South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup album
While England fans will be happy to forget the on-pitch antics of the national team during the 2010 World Cup, most neutrals found the spectacle far from scintillating as the tournament’s unwieldy Jabulani ball encouraged conservatism from even the world’s top players. If, for whatever reason, you are keen to remember the World Cup in South Africa, at least you can do so with the help of Listen UP! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album. Including such hits as Shakira’s Waka Waka (This Time For Africa), the Amazon reviews promise that you’ll be transported ‘right back to the 2010 World Cup.’ We think we’ll pass, thanks all the same…
Brazil 2014 Simpsons football merchandise
The Brazilian World Cup is still a little way off yet, but merchandisers are already gearing up for the summer’s much-anticipated event. The Americans have never been too enamoured with ‘soccer,’ but it seems that the 2014 World Cup is too big a merchandising opportunity to pass up. The Fox television network is looking to get in on the act, announcing a new episode of The Simpsons in which Homer has to try his luck as a World Cup referee.
As a tie-in with the new episode, Fox will also release a range of Simpsons football merchandise, featuring some of the world’s most popular club teams. Are you’re a fan of FC Barcelona, FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, Corinthians or Boca Juniors? If so, branded Simpsons soccer merchandise could soon bizarrely be yours…
Brazil 2014 gold cufflinks
Football and good taste aren’t always compatible concepts, as anyone who has seen Italy striker Mario Balotelli’s car will attest. Much World Cup merchandise follows a similar format, with garish and gaudy accoutrements available from all four corners of the globe. You can now get gold World Cup cufflinks, available for a mere £22.88. Just the thing for an impromptu wag wedding! These strange examples of World Cup merchandise only go to show how easy it is to trade on the image of football’s premier international tournament!
