The goalposts are shifting on and off the pitch this season. UEFA’s format change to the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League means more games, more competition and – in theory – more entertainment. Decathlon will play their own part in this seismic shift, providing the official match ball for the Europa League and Conference League competitions via their Kipsta brand.
The move comes after years of building Kipsta’s brand reputation across Europe. They became the official supplier of match balls for Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 back in 2022, where their product was used by the likes of Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi on a week-to-week basis. The result? Instant credibility.
This might appear like an overnight pivot from Decathlon but it’s no such thing. The sports brand has over 30 years of experience in producing affordable balls for grassroots communities, and have been creating footballs that meet FIFA’s global professional standards since 2016.
Innovation has been the word that’s underpinned this growth. FIFA certified balls need to endure 15 different tests to ensure they’re fit for the speed and durability of the modern game, but Kipsta routinely put their product through many more tests that aren’t replicated in the rest of the industry. Flight, speed, softness, spin and grip are among the factors Kipsta balls are measured against – and despite the technical prowess, they’ve been making their elite balls affordable compared to the prices deployed by rival brands. UEFA Europa and Conference League match balls are priced at £69.99 compared to a Champions League ball at £130.
But it’s not just match balls that Kipsta is paying attention to – their boots have also started to make serious noise in the market.