Google AI
The Times Australia

Times Media Advertising

Ant International Becomes Official Sponsor of The Argentine National Football Team

  • Through the partnership, Ant International secures comprehensive marketing rights of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and world-class players of the Argentine National Football Team to launch strategic activations across its brand portfolio, including Alipay+, Antom, Bettr and WorldFirst
BUENOS AIRES and SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 16 March 2026 - Ant International, a leading global payment, digitisation, and fintech solutions provider for merchants and financial institutions, today announced a partnership with the Argentine Football Association (AFA), becoming an Official Sponsor of the Argentine National Football Team for the Asia region (excluding the Middle East).

Leandro Petersen (left), Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of AFA and Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International during a signing ceremony of the partnership.
Leandro Petersen (left), Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of AFA and Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International during a signing ceremony of the partnership.

With over 30 offices around the world, Ant International provides AI- and blockchain-empowered cross-border digital payment, treasury and digitalisation solutions for global merchants and financial institutions. Building on broad regional collaborations, its digital payment and account services connects 150 million+ merchants to 1.8 billion consumer accounts in the Asia Pacific by integrating 300+ of mainstream and alternative payment methods.

This agreement unites the reigning FIFA World Cup Champions with one of the world's most innovative financial technology providers. Through this partnership, Ant International secures comprehensive marketing rights to launch strategic activations across its brand portfolio, including Alipay+, Antom, Bettr and WorldFirst, by leveraging the intellectual property of the AFA and the world-class players of the Argentine National Football Team.

"We are incredibly proud to support the Argentine national team, a beacon of excellence, teamwork, and global inspiration," said Peng Yang, Chief Executive Officer of Ant International. "Sports and tech are two critical bonds for communities and markets that break barriers and connect people. Together we will bring more extensive and enriched football experience and community impact through our Asia fintech and digital services network."

With three FIFA World Cup triumphs in 1978, 1986, and 2022, and having reached the global final on six historic occasions, the Argentine National Team occupies a hallowed place in the pantheon of sporting legends. As the standard-bearers of the "Albiceleste" spirit, the team is defined by a century-old lineage of virtuosity and an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of glory.

"Football is the ultimate universal language. It serves as a powerful bridge that transcends borders and connects the entire world," said Claudio Fabian Tapia, President of AFA. "Through this partnership, we are excited to bring that connection to an even wider audience in Asia."

"This partnership is a commitment to long-term success and a strategic union of two global leaders," said Leandro Petersen, Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer of AFA. "By joining forces, we aim to deepen our presence in Asia and achieve new heights in both sports and fin-tech."

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Ant International

Ant International is a leading global digital payment, digitisation and financial technology provider. Through collaboration across the private and public sectors, our unified techfin platform supports financial institutions and merchants of all sizes to achieve inclusive growth through a comprehensive range of cutting-edge digital payment and financial services solutions. To learn more, please visit

Times Magazine

Australians Are Keeping Their Cars Longer — And It’s Changing The Market

Australia’s car market is undergoing a subtle but important transformation. People are keeping th...

Streaming Fatigue: Australians Overwhelmed By Subscriptions

Streaming was once supposed to simplify entertainment. Instead, many Australians now feel overwhe...

Why Shopping Centres No Longer Feel Exciting

There was a time when going to the shopping centre felt like an event. Families spent entire Satu...

Harry And Meghan: Less Powerful As Royals, More Powerful As Content

For all the claims of “Harry and Meghan fatigue”, the world’s media still cannot stop talking abou...

Surprising things Aussies do to ‘manifest’ winning a dream home as Australia’s biggest ever prize unveiled

Dream Home Art Union has unveiled its biggest prize in its 70-year history supporting veterans - a...

A Beginner’s Guide To Louis Vuitton: The Style, The Products And The Global Obsession

Luxury fashion can sometimes appear intimidating to newcomers. The terminology, the prices, the bo...

The Times Features

The Teals: Can They Spoil Australia’s New Attraction to…

Australian politics is shifting again. For years, the dominant national contest revolved around L...

Property Paralysis: Buyers Hesitate As Australia’s Hous…

Australia’s property market may still be active, but beneath the auctions, listings and glossy rea...

The Return Of Practical Luxury: Buyers Want Quality Aga…

For years, consumer culture revolved around speed and abundance. Fast fashion.Fast furniture.Fast...

People Are Going Out Less — And Businesses Know It

Restaurants are full on some nights. Concerts still sell tickets. Sporting events attract crowds. ...

Why Shopping Centres No Longer Feel Exciting

There was a time when going to the shopping centre felt like an event. Families spent entire Satu...

The Liberal Party Faces Its Greatest Question Since Men…

When Robert Menzies founded the Liberal Party of Australia in the aftermath of World War II, Austr...

The Noise Around the 2026 Federal Budget Does Not Match…

Every time the government changes the rules around property investment, the same thing happens. Ph...

Hollywood’s Summer Spectacle Is Heading To Australia

American cinemas are entering one of the biggest blockbuster summers in years, and Australian audi...

Lasagne Takes Centre Stage at Chiswick Woollahra This W…

  This winter, Chiswick is launching a Lasagne Series, bringing together chefs from across the Solo...