Nike unveils 14 national kits in women’s World Cup push

Nike Inc unveiled football strips this week for 14 national teams ahead of this year’s Women’s World Cup in France and said it had signed a three-year promotion deal with UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Women’s Football, part of its growing focus on women’s sport. The United States, Canada, France, England and Australia were among the teams whose kits were released at an event in Paris, graced by 28 of the world’s top women footballers. Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, champion fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad and two-time Grand Slam winner Li Na also attended. The Women’s World Cup will be held from June 7 to July 7. “We’re seeing incredible momentum in women’s sports right now,” Nike oficial Amy Montagne said ahead of the launch. “We see this as the next chapter to support, celebrate and elevate female athletes.” The company declined to give inancial terms of the deal with European governing body UEFA, or the value of the individual national kit sponsorship deals. Both, however, are the latest sign of the growing inancial power of women’s sport for sports goods makers like Nike, Adidas and Under Armour.