With the Major League Soccer season in full swing and the Women's World Cup continuing to play out in France, soccer is peaking this summer. In the archives at the Delta Flight Museum we have a number of "footy" related items to highlight.
On
July 16, 2016, the Nigerian men's soccer team trained for the Rio Olympics in
Atlanta to commemorate their gold medal victory over Argentina at the 1996
Olympics. Delta
was the Official Airline of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Games held in Atlanta. This promotional ball is signed by the Nigerian men's national soccer team.
In the early 1900s in the United Kingdom soccer scarves began as a way for fans to stay warm without sacrificing their team spirit. Today, even during the summer months, they are a popular way to support your team. This scarf commemorates the partnership between Delta and Chelsea FC. In fact, Delta has sponsored many sports teams both past and present.
From 2012 to 2018 Delta was the Official Airline Partner of the English Premier League team Chelsea FC. The framed photo above is a reproduction of a larger version signed by the 2013 squad. In
2017, Delta became the Official Airline of Atlanta United FC. Like scarves, car flags are a popular way to support your team when you're on the go in the United States.
In 2012, Delta's joint venture partner, Korean Air, sponsored the FIFA Club World Cup hosted by Japan. Check out this 747 model decked out in a special livery for the event!
See our soccer related objects and a whole lot more in our online collections and enjoy the rest of the Women's World Cup!
Austin Coleman
Registrar