2020.11.17press release

Kashima Antlers FC will join Sport Innovation Alliance as the first professional soccer club to join SIA from East Asia

New York and Tokyo – Blue United Corporation announced today that the Sport Innovation Alliance (SIA), a collaboration hub formed by football clubs from all over the world, will invite Kashima Antlers FC to join as a member as the first professional soccer club from East Asia to share ideas and synergies to define, execute and maintain a sustainable innovation process in each of the clubs.

Founded in November 2019 by Real Sociedad’s digital transformation efforts (La Liga, Spain), SIA is an open collaboration hub made by football clubs from different countries, to share ideas, and synergies to define, execute and maintain a sustainable innovation process in each of the clubs.  

Since 2016, Blue United Corporation supports Kashima Antlers as its Global Strategy Officer and joining SIA is an organic next step in the Club’s international expansion.

Kashima Antlers FC plays the First Division of Japan Professional Football League (J.League) and it was founded in 1991 signing the Brazilian legend Zico (Arthur Antunes Coimbra). Winning 19 domestic titles and 1 internationally being the champion of the AFC Champions League, Kashima is one of the most decorated and successful teams in Asia. 

Kashima Antlers gained international recognition when it played Real Madrid in the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2016.  The Club’s international ambitions and willingness to build its brand outside of Japan, led Kashima Antlers to become the first Japanese soccer club to set up an office outside of its home country, opening one in New York as part of the club’s global strategy.

With the addition of Kashima Antlers FC, there are already 22 football clubs from 21 countries that belong to SIA, which combine a digital following of 25 million on Facebook, 11 million on Instagram, 26 million on Twitter and 22 million on YouTube. 

The Clubs in Sport Innovation Alliance (SIA)
LAFC (MLS)
Celtic FC (Scottish Premiership)
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC (English Premier League)
Legia Warsaw (Ekstraklasa)
FC Spartak Moscow (Russian Premier League)
AS Saint-Étienne (Ligue 1)
Real Sociedad (La Liga)
Cagliari Calcio (Serie A)
AEK Athens F.C. (Super League Greece)
Caracas FC (Primera Division)
Club Atlético Nacional (Categoría Primera A)
C.S. Emelec (Serie A)
Club Sporting Cristal (Liga 1)
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica (Campeonato Nacional)
CR Vasco da Gama (Campeonato Brasileiro Série A)
Club Atlético Peñarol (Primera División)
Racing Club (Primera División)
Club Nacional de Football (Uruguay – 1st Division)
Al Ittihad Club (Saudi Arabia – 1st Division)
Kashima Antlers FC (Japan – 1st Division)
Chivas FC (Mexico – 1st Division)
Dundalk FC (Ireland – 1st Division)
Deportivo Saprissa (Costa Rica – 1st Division)

About Sport Innovation Alliance
Founded in November 2019 by Real Sociedad’s digital transformation efforts (La Liga, Spain), SIA is an open collaboration hub made by football clubs from different countries, to share ideas, and synergies to define, execute and maintain a sustainable innovation process in each of the clubs.  
https://www.sportinnovationalliance.com/en

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