The growing stature and appeal of Asian football was further underlined today when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and Allianz, the international financial services company, announced a multi-year pan-regional partnership.
The exclusive category partnership will see Allianz become the official sponsor for the AFC’s most established club tournaments – including the AFC Champions League, the AFC Cup, as well as the AFC Futsal Club Championship.
Dato’ Windsor John, AFC General Secretary, said: “We’re excited to welcome Allianz as an official sponsor. Their willingness to partner is testament once again to the quality and strength of the AFC’s competitions.
“In the AFC Vision and Mission, we emphasised our commitment to engage with more fans and communities to reinforce our position as the number one sport in Asia. Partnering with a world-class brand in Allianz will enable us to realise our aspirations under the banner of One Asia, One Goal.”
The sponsorship extends and leverages Allianz’s global football heritage to connect more deeply with its customers in key Asian markets, while significantly expanding its brand presence in the growth region.
“We are very proud to be working with the AFC to support Asian football. This partnership exemplifies the distinct Allianz values of innovation, courage and excellence, and brings them to life by celebrating our footballers, fans and communities in the region”, said Lars Heibutzki, Chief Distribution Officer for Asia, Allianz.
The AFC Champions League has firmly established its position as one of the world’s leading club competitions and continues to engage with hundreds of millions of people across the continent.
Similarly, the ever-improving AFC Cup continues to captivate fans with unforgettable moments of great football action. A record-breaking 43 clubs from 25 Member Associations competed for a place in the group stage of the AFC Cup this year. The number of teams in the group stage has also been expanded to a record 34 clubs in 2017.
The AFC Futsal Club Championship Thailand 2016 also saw a series of record-breaking feats with the total number of spectators increasing by a staggering 365% from the 2015 edition. The championship also had a big impact on social media, with the AFC’s Twitter and Facebook accounts achieving a 300% and 70% increase in impressions respectively.
