Kia Motors becomes FIFA World Cup sponsor

Kia Motors Corporation has announced the beginning of a partnership with Hyundai Motors as the official automotive partner of FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association), football's governing body, for the World Cup.

With this agreement, Kia Motors becomes one of six official FIFA partners and the beneficiary of the highest level of association with FIFA, which includes rights to the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and all other FIFA events, exclusive marketing assets, increased media exposure and an affiliation with the governing body's special events and development initiatives.

Following Hyundai Motors' 2003 agreement to sponsor the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, the new deal will usher in an unprecedented eight-year-long period of collaboration with FIFA that will bring affiliate Kia Motors into the picture in 2007.

In return for Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group's commitment to the world's best-loved game, FIFA will allow Hyundai and Kia to showcase their vehicles at FIFA events in the capacity as official supplier of vehicles to FIFA.

FIFA president Joseph S. Blatter and Hyundai Motor Co. vice-chairman Kim Dong-Jin signed the agreement earlier this month in Geneva, Switzerland, which was also attended by Kia and Hyundai management and distributors.

"I am immensely proud to be able to welcome yet another trusted partner back on board as FIFA launches into a new era of its more than 100-year-old existence," Mr Blatter said.

"Hyundai and Kia share our deep-rooted passion for the game of football as well as a commitment to developing the sport around the world and through all walks of life."

"Kia is no stranger to the world of sports as we sponsor major international sporting events, such as the Australian Open and Davis Cup tennis tournaments, the World Inline Cup and the Asian X-Games," senior executive vice-president and COO Yong-Hwan Kim said.

"Kia is proud to sponsor the FIFA World Cup as it is a perfect complement to Kia's brand building goals to be known as an 'exciting and enabling' carmaker."

Through its partnership with FIFA, Kia and Hyundai will be sponsoring not only the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and 2014, but also other FIFA competitions from 2007 and onwards, such as the FIFA World Youth Championships, FIFA Women's World Cups, as well as new FIFA competitions, including the FIFA Interactive World Cups and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups.