China’s U17 national football team secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup on May 13, defeating Qatar 2-0 in the AFC U17 Asian Cup. Goals from He Sifan and Zhang Bolin sealed the victory in Saudi Arabia, ending a 21-year drought for China in the youth tournament. The 2026 U-17 World Cup, set for November in Qatar, will feature 48 teams for the second consecutive year under the annual format. The draw is scheduled for May 21, 2026, in Zurich, Switzerland. Defending champions Portugal failed to qualify, leaving the title open.
In a major marketing move, Dreame, a global smart home appliance brand, announced on May 12 that football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will serve as its global ambassador. The campaign highlights Ronaldo’s iconic bicycle kick and his 971 career goals, including his recent 100th goal in the Saudi Pro League. Dreame previously named Liu Yifei as a global ambassador, building a dual endorsement strategy spanning film, television, and sports.
Adidas has been named the official footwear supplier for the 2026 Solheim Cup European Team, the Ladies European Tour announced. The deal also makes Adidas a tournament sponsor and official footwear supplier for the event, held September 7-13 at Bernadus Golf Club in the Netherlands. Adidas will provide shoes for the European team, including a limited-edition women’s model in white with blue and yellow accents.
Shokz, a leader in open-ear headphones, has named Jin Ming, a Chinese freediving world record holder and national team member, as a brand friend. Jin Ming is also an entrepreneur and investor, aligning with Shokz’s “open” philosophy. The partnership expands Shokz’s brand narrative from professional sports to diverse lifestyles.
Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has unveiled the full schedule for its “ICI C’EST PARIS LA MAISON SHANGHAI” event, taking place May 14-17 at Zhangyuan, a historic Shanghai landmark. The event combines sports, culture, and lifestyle, marking PSG’s expanded presence in China.
Harvey, an AI platform for legal and professional services, has partnered with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and WNBA’s Golden State Valkyries as their official legal AI partner. The multi-year deal will integrate Harvey into the teams’ legal workflows. Since March, Harvey has secured nine sports sponsorship agreements, including PSG, Fulham, Stuttgart, the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and the US Open.
Inter Miami CF has partnered with IM8, a premium health and longevity brand, as its exclusive official health supplement partner. The multi-year deal includes an equity investment by Inter Miami in IM8’s parent company, Prenetics. The partnership unites David Beckham’s roles as IM8 co-founder and Inter Miami co-owner, focusing on elite performance and longevity.
Lai Yawen has been elected president of the Chinese Volleyball Association at its eighth member congress in Beijing on May 12. A former captain of China’s women’s volleyball team, Lai won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics and later served as assistant coach under multiple head coaches, including Lang Ping. She most recently led the Volleyball Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China.
The Chinese Table Tennis Association has published selection criteria for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. The Games will take place from September 19 to October 4, 2026, with table tennis events running from September 20 to 28. Each delegation can send up to five male and five female athletes, competing in seven events. Selection for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles will be recommended by the national team coaching staff based on technical ability, physical condition, and performance against key opponents.
Nike has reaffirmed its commitment to the SNKRS app after merging its engineering teams with those of Nike App and Nike.com. In an official statement, Nike emphasized that SNKRS remains central to its digital market strategy, with plans to deliver curated releases, deep content stories, and enhanced shopping experiences. The restructuring follows a global layoff of approximately 1,400 employees in April, part of Nike’s transformation strategy.
