Reporting organizationally to the Senior Licensing & Retail Manager – USA, the Manager, Licensing & Retail - USA will be a key member of the host country FIFA26 Commercial Operations team, and work in close collaboration with the FIFA Zurich Licensing and Retail team and other individuals from key functional areas responsible for delivering the most engaging, innovative and accessible licensing product and retail merchandise program on a national and local basis, and in line with the global Licensing & Retail Strategy. The aim is to engage the fans and community through local and national licensing & retail initiatives.
THE POSITION
The main responsibilities and oversights of the Manager, Licensing & Retail – USA for the FIFA World Cup 26™ include:
- Source and propose local licensing agreements in coordination with FIFA Licensing & Retail to ensure a comprehensive range of FIFA World Cup 26™ merchandise in Canada.
- Contribute & ensure strategic merchandise & retail plan is executed in consultation and with approval of FIFA Licensing & Retail and in consideration of the global Licensing Strategy. Influence product assortment, pricing, and distribution channels to maximize revenue and brand exposure in line with the overall Marketing and Communications Strategy for FIFA World Cup 26™.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure compliance with FIFA Licensing and Commercial Guidelines and brand standards including all Host City merchandise and premium activity.
- Manage and oversee the production, quality control, and timely delivery of licensed merchandise for FIFA World Cup 26™ and Host Cities, coordinating with suppliers, manufacturers, and distributors.
- Analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and competitor activities to identify new licensing and retail opportunities and optimize sales potential.
- Manage relationships with retail partners, including brick-and-mortar stores, online platforms, and official FIFA World Cup 26™ merchandise outlets, ensuring brand consistency and driving sales growth.
- Monitor and analyse seasonal and post-tournament performance, present data & provide recommendations for future tournaments.
- Collaborate with FIFA Legal and Brand Protection to enforce licensing agreements, protect intellectual property rights, and prevent unauthorized use of FIFA trademarks.
- Provide regular reports and presentations on Licensing & Retail activities, including sales performance, market insights, and recommendations for improvement, to senior management and stakeholders.
- Stay updated on FIFA World Cup 26™ event plans, schedule, and key milestones to align licensing & Retail initiatives with the overall Marketing and Communications strategy.
- Manage all planning responsibilities for the Mundiale de Clubes 2025 tournament with Senior Manager, which may including onsite retail operation planning, Official Licensed Product program, product approvals, any brand related matters and all other necessary activites to ensure successful delivery of the retail operations of the Tournament.
YOUR PROFILE
- Bachelor’s Degree or similar level of education in Marketing, Business Administration, Sports Management, etc.
- Minimum of 5 years of work experience in retail, licensing, merchandising, major events management, etc.
- Solid communication, presentation, and negotiation skills
- Highly creative and knowledgeable about market trends
- Good understanding of product development, go-to-market processes, and retail distribution models