The official sports brand of the United States Polo Association leads for the second consecutive year the License Global ranking and reaches a record of 2.7 billion dollars in retail sales in 2025
U.S. Polo Assn.®, the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), has been recognized as the best positioned sports brand in the annual Top Global Licensor list by License Global for the second consecutive year, ahead of NFL Players Association, PGA Tour, and Formula 1.
As a new milestone, U.S. Polo Assn. rises to the number 22 position in the global ranking of licensors, which encompasses the sectors of entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, and sports. This recognition reflects the continuous international expansion of the brand, valued in billions of dollars, which recorded a record year across the board with 2.7 billion dollars in retail sales in 2025.
The latest recognition from License Global comes after another year of significant growth for U.S. Polo Assn., driven by its authentic connection to the sport of polo and by a long-term global expansion strategy. The Top Global Licensor 2026 ranking highlights the continued success of the brand, which has progressively expanded its presence in international markets through strategic partnerships, growth of its commercial network, digital commerce, and consumer engagement initiatives.
As one of the key initiatives supporting this growth, U.S. Polo Assn. recently launched its global campaign, The Polo Shirt: An Icon Born from the Game™, which celebrates the authentic role of the sport of polo as the inspiration for one of the most recognizable styles in fashion. The campaign highlights the brand's differentiating position by being directly linked to the sport from which polo emerged, creating an important element of differentiation in today's competitive market.
"Continuing to be the number 1 sports licensor and rising to the number 22 position among the leading global references in licensing in License Global represents an important milestone for U.S. Polo Assn. and reflects the incredible work being done across our global business," said J. Michael Prince, president and CEO of USPA Global, the company that manages and markets the U.S. Polo Assn. brand.
"As the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association, our authentic connection to the sport of polo remains a powerful differentiating element for U.S. Polo Assn., which continues to connect with consumers and sports enthusiasts around the world," he added.
The annual License Global ranking is widely considered one of the main benchmarks of the licensing industry and measures global retail sales of licensed products and experiences for consumers across a wide variety of categories. According to the 2026 report, the world's top licensors generated over $338 billion in retail sales, highlighting the continued strength and evolution of the global licensing sector. The largest brand in the world remains The Walt Disney Company, with $63 billion in retail sales. Other notable brands in the ranking included NBCUniversal, Warner Bros. Discovery, The Hershey Company, BMW Group, Sony Pictures Consumer Products, and John Deere, among others.
For U.S. Polo Assn., this recognition underscores years of strategic investment in brand building and the development of international markets. Currently, the brand's global presence reaches consumers in 190 countries through a wide network of e-commerce platforms, international strategic partners, and over 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. stores, all with the common commitment to offer authentic, accessible products inspired by the sport that reflect the tradition and excitement of polo.
To be included in the annual ranking, participating brands and corporate entities submit retail sales figures based on global sales of licensed products. This data is complemented by independent research and verifications conducted by the License Global editorial team through industry sources, financial documents, annual reports, and market analysis.
This recognition for U.S. Polo Assn. comes after another milestone in 2026, when the brand was included in the Most Trusted Brands 2026 list by USA TODAY alongside other notable brands such as Nike, Rolex, Disney, YETI, and American Eagle Outfitters, among others. This prestigious ranking, based on consumers, highlights the leading brands in the United States based on trust, reliability, and overall customer experience.
The inclusion of U.S. Polo Assn. in both USA TODAY and License Global highlights the brand's ability to consistently offer quality products and meaningful experiences, while maintaining a strong emotional connection with consumers and sports enthusiasts around the world through sports authenticity.
"The continued growth of licensing arises from combining a strong and coherent global brand with knowledge of local markets," said Molly Robbins, SVP of Global Licensing & Business Development of USPA Global.
"Our partners around the world play a fundamental role in bringing the U.S. Polo Assn. brand to life in ways that connect with consumers, and we are proud of what we have built together," she said.
"This recognition from License Global speaks to the strength of those relationships and the incredible work being done across our global network," Robbins added.
As U.S. Polo Assn. continues its upward trajectory, the brand maintains its goal of expanding its presence in both established and emerging markets, while sharing the tradition, style, and excitement of the sport of polo with consumers and fans around the world.
About U.S. Polo Assn. and USPA Global
U.S. Polo Assn. is the official sports brand of the United States Polo Association (USPA), the largest association of polo clubs and players in the United States, founded in 1890. With a global presence of billions of dollars and international distribution through more than 1,200 U.S. Polo Assn. stores, as well as thousands of additional distribution points, U.S. Polo Assn. offers clothing, accessories, and footwear for men, women, and children in over 190 countries around the world.
The brand's global campaign for polo, An Icon Born from the Game, is a tribute to the authentic sporting origins of iconic polo and its evolution into one of the most enduring style elements in the world.
The global sports brand sponsors important polo events around the world, including the U.S. Open Polo Championship®, which is held annually in NPC, in The Palm Beaches, the main polo tournament in the United States. Historic agreements with ESPN in the United States, TNT and Eurosport in Europe, Star Sports in India, and BeIn Sports in the Middle East allow the broadcasting of several of the world's major polo championships, sponsored by U.S. Polo Assn., making this exciting sport accessible for the first time to millions of sports fans around the world.
U.S. Polo Assn. has recently been included among the Most Trusted Brands of USA TODAY and in 2026 was ranked as the top sports licensor in the world, ahead of NFL, PGA Tour, and Formula 1, according to License Global. The sport-inspired brand has received international recognition for its global growth and sports content. Due to its great success as a global brand,
U.S. Polo Assn. has appeared in Fortune, Forbes, Modern Retail, and GQ, as well as in Yahoo Finance and Bloomberg, among other prominent media outlets around the world. For more information: uspoloassnglobal.com or follow @uspoloassn on their social media.
USPA Global is a subsidiary of the United States Polo Association (USPA) and manages the sports brand U.S. Polo Assn., valued at billions of dollars. USPA Global also manages its subsidiary Global Polo, a world leader in polo-related content. For more information globalpolo.com or follow Global Polo on YouTube.