Hisense made history as the first-ever Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 — the biggest and most ambitious club football tournament the world has ever seen. For Kenyan football fans, this partnership means one thing: the brand behind your living room TV is the same brand powering the biggest stages in world football.
As the official Hisense distributor in Kenya, Googa Electronics breaks down everything you need to know about this landmark partnership, the tournament, and what it means for football fans across Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, and the rest of Kenya.
HISENSE x FIFA TIMELINE
Hisense's relationship with FIFA is not new. It started in 2017, when Hisense became the first Chinese-headquartered consumer electronics company to sponsor the FIFA World Cup. Since then, the partnership has grown through multiple tournaments:
"We are delighted to welcome Hisense, a global market-leading brand, as an Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. This partnership will offer fans unique ways to engage with the tournament, both on and off the pitch." — Gianni Infantino, FIFA President (Shanghai, 30 October 2024)
- 2018 FIFA World Cup (Russia) — Official TV sponsor
- 2022 FIFA World Cup (Qatar) — Content collaboration with FIFA+
- UEFA EURO 2016, 2020, 2024 — Three consecutive European Championship sponsorships
- 2025 FIFA Club World Cup (USA) — First-ever Official Partner
- 2026 FIFA World Cup (USA/Canada/Mexico) — Confirmed Official Sponsor
The partnership was announced on 30 October 2024 at the Shanghai Tower by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Hisense Group Chairman Jia Shaoqian.
Source: FIFA Official Media Release — https://inside.fifa.com/tournament-organisation/commercial/media-releases/hisense-becomes-partner-for-new-fifa-club-world-cup
"We are proud to be an Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, which is a competition among the top clubs from all six confederations — a collision of first-class excellence. This perfectly aligns with Hisense's pursuit of the champion spirit." — Jia Shaoqian, Hisense Group Chairman
TOURNAMENT OVERVIEW AND AFRICAN TEAMS
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 was a groundbreaking event — the first edition under the new expanded 32-team format. Key facts:
- Dates: 14 June – 13 July 2025
- Host Country: United States
- Venues: 12 stadiums across 11 cities (Miami, New York, Atlanta, Seattle, and more)
- Teams: 32 clubs from all six FIFA confederations
- Prize Pool: Over $1 billion USD
- Trophy: 24-karat gold trophy designed by Tiffany & Co.
- Winner: Chelsea FC defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the final
Four African clubs represented the continent at this historic tournament, qualifying through their performances in the CAF Champions League:
- Al Ahly (Egypt) — Africa's most successful club internationally
- Wydad AC (Morocco) — CAF Champions League winners
- Espérance de Tunis (Tunisia) — Multiple continental titles
- Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa) — South Africa's dominant club
For East African football fans, seeing African clubs compete against Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich on the same stage was a milestone moment.
HISENSE TECHNOLOGY
Hisense didn't just put its logo on the tournament — the brand's technology was embedded into the competition:
- VAR Operation Rooms — Hisense displays powered the Video Assistant Referee system
- Pitchside LED Screens — Hisense branding visible to billions worldwide
- 110-Inch Mini-LED ULED TVs — Showcased at VIP areas and fan zones
- AI TV Technology — Hisense's latest AI-powered televisions featured throughout
According to Omdia, Hisense ranks #2 worldwide in total TV shipments (2022-2024) and #1 globally in the 100-inch TV segment. This is the same technology available to Kenyan customers at Googa Electronics.
Source: PRNewswire — https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hisense-named-first-official-partner-of-the-fifa-club-world-cup-2025-302291737.html
