The English Football Association has agreed a three-year partnership with the international arm of Japanese children’s entertainment property the Pokémon Company.
The agreement with Pokémon Company International will focus on supporting the FA’s National Futsal Strategy.
The partnership begins immediately with Pokémon and the FA aiming to make futsal a natural part of children’s football development. The focus in year one of the partnership will be on increasing participation of school and club teams from across England in the FA’s National Youth Futsal programme.
The Pokémon Company International and FA will work closely together to create and deliver a range of initiatives at participating schools and clubs, culminating in the FA’s National Youth Futsal Festival in May 2020, as well as supporting the England men’s national futsal team.
Dan Kiddle, the FA’s head of commercial partnerships, said: “Pokémon is an instantly recognisable brand across the world and we are excited to work together to encourage young players, of all abilities, to play the game of futsal.”
The FA views futsal as integral to the progression of football standards across the country, with the current England men’s national team featuring a number of players who were brought up playing futsal.