The Chinese state media outlet Global Times published an article on Tuesday highlighting how Chinese manufacturers are leading the market for FIFA World Cup-branded products, ranging from soccer balls to team jerseys.
The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, is one of the premier global sporting events. The upcoming tournament is set to take place in June, with all three mainland North American countries as hosts, while the finals will happen in New Jersey. Interestingly, the Chinese national team hasn’t qualified for the event, despite its success in the Olympics and other sports.
Even though China isn’t renowned as a soccer powerhouse, the Communist Party has exploited various tournaments to boast about the country’s manufacturing prowess. Human rights experts point to issues like the mass enslavement of ethnic minorities as a significant factor in this narrative. In the regions of East Turkestan and Tibet, there’s evidence suggesting that Communist Party officials have adopted a forced labor strategy following global critique over human rights violations.
Interestingly, the challenging human rights context surrounding China’s manufacturing sector wasn’t addressed in the Global Times article. It noted that nearly 70 percent of the products related to the 2026 World Cup sold in China will originate from central Yiwu. The publication emphasized the wide range of merchandise available, from T-shirts to dog jerseys, and mentioned that Mexican authorities are using Chinese-made buses for transporting fans to venues.
The article suggested that, “In a global mega-event of this scale, Chinese manufacturers are highly competitive and have become an essential supplier base for many product categories.” It claimed that these manufacturers are backed by advantages in production capacity, quality, and cost efficiency.
According to the report, the demand for sports products has surged notably, especially in Yiwu. Sales from January to April this year grew by 7.9% compared to 2025, largely due to the World Cup’s impending arrival. An alleged “expert” suggested that the adaptability of China’s manufacturing is overshadowing even the actual host country, making Chinese goods particularly appealing to fans from soccer-loving nations, especially in Latin America.
““Chinese manufacturers are emerging as a highly competitive and essential supplier base in many product areas, backed by strengths in production capacity, product quality, and cost efficiency,” said an expert.
China’s manufacturing dominance was similarly evident during the 2022 World Cup, hosted by Qatar, a Chinese ally. Back then, Global Times celebrated China’s contributions to the global supply chain, pointing out that this achievement was notable amid strict lockdowns imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic, which were still in place at that time.
“What Chinese companies offer are products and services enriched with leading technology, which, according to regime-approved experts, allow Chinese manufacturing to penetrate the global high-end market,” the article noted.
However, the rising order numbers for Chinese goods raise serious ethical concerns regarding modern slavery. Since 2017, China has faced allegations of detaining up to 3 million individuals in East Turkestan’s concentration camps. Survivors have reported horrific conditions, including enslavement and torture. Reports suggest that this issue expanded nationwide from 2020 onwards.
In 2025, the International Labor Organization (ILO) confirmed that large-scale enslavement practices against the Uyghurs and Tibetans are still ongoing. The ILO highlighted a system in which ‘surplus’ rural workers are forcibly displaced to various industries, including those related to solar panel and battery production, agriculture, and seafood processing.
Additionally, a report last year by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism found evidence of Uyghur slaves working in numerous factories across China and East Turkestan.
In total, over 100 global brands are reportedly linked to factories utilizing Uyghur and other ethnic minority workers under forced labor conditions, according to the Pulitzer Center.
