After signing a short-term deal to cover this past summer’s Copa América, it seems both Nike and Uruguay liked what they saw.
The Asociación Uruguaya de Fútbol (AUF) and the American sportswear giant announced on Tuesday, December 3, that the two parties had signed “a multi-year partnership that cements Nike as the federation’s exclusive sports sponsor and supplier.”
Under the agreement, Nike will supply kits for the Uruguayan men’s and women’s national teams, including their Olympic soccer, beach football, futsal and e-Sports teams.
“The Uruguayan Football Association is a powerhouse in Latin American football,” said Doug Bowles, Nike VP/GM, Latin America, in a press release. “This partnership underscores our deep commitment to fueling the passion for football in the region and across Latin America, particularly among youth. We look forward to partnering with the federation to serve players and supporters with Nike’s one-of-a-kind innovation and design.”
Nike’s press release also says that the deal is designed to “advance the sport of football in Latin America, with an emphasis on grassroots initiatives and youth development through community impact programs.”
By joining forces with the AUF, Nike plans to increase football participation and access among Uruguayan youth, enhance local football programs and coaching education, and promote social change through sport.
— Nike.com
“We are delighted to join forces with Nike, a global leader in sports innovation,” said AUF President Ignacio Alonso. “We share Nike’s vision for a more inclusive and vibrant football ecosystem in Latin America, and together, we’ll work tirelessly to ensure football becomes a catalyst for positive change in Uruguay and beyond.”
Uruguay’s previous kit deal with Puma expired at the end of 2023. After a few months without a supplier and producing kits in-house, the AUF announced the Nike deal for the 2024 Copa América in April. Nike’s first kits for Uruguay were launched in June.
Uruguay beat Canada on penalty kicks to place third in the 2024 Copa América. The country’s men’s national team’s next game is a CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying match against Argentina in March.