While point-of-sale data show triple-digit gains in soccer apparel and equipment sold through official channels in the World Cup year, the counterfeit market is threatening legitimate sales through e-commerce channels and by increasing production scale. Circana POS data found that international soccer apparel sales in the U.S. soared in Q1 during the buildup to the tournament, with men’s apparel accounting for about 80% of the total. FIFA-licensed soccer equipment enjoyed a similar growth rate in the quarter. Circana calculated the overall U.S. soccer equipment market at $720 million in sales for ... Log in to view full article.