The agreement marks another commercial win for FIFA after MATCH paid $240 million for the hospitality rights to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2014 tournament in Brazil. The company took a substantial financial hit for last year’s World Cup, reportedly almost $50 million, but is expecting to return to profit for Brazil 2014.
The new appointment encompasses both the sale of hospitality packages on an exclusive worldwide basis and the operation of the FIFA hospitality programme for the two World Cups, as well as for the Confederations Cups in 2017 and 2021 and the Women’s World Cups in 2019 and 2023. The deal for the entire period covers a financial guarantee for FIFA of $300 million as well as a profit share.
FIFA has also hailed the agreement as strengthening its fight against ticket touts. Using their expertise and monitoring facilities, MATCH Hospitality will assist FIFA in enforcing the provisions governing the sale of hospitality packages, effectively preventing unauthorised dealers from luring corporate clients and individuals into buying such packages from them.
“MATCH Hospitality delivered a successful hospitality programme in 2010 despite the very challenging economic situation influencing this particular industry at the time,” said Thierry Weil, FIFA’s marketing director. “FIFA has renewed and extended with a company and partner that brings together the most experienced team in the hospitality industry to deliver sustainable high-quality services to the corporate clients for FIFA’s flagship events on a long-term basis.”
Jaime Byrom, MATCH Hospitality executive chairman, added: “MATCH Hospitality has continued to develop our sales network and strategies and our operational capabilities, and together with our shareholders we are truly looking forward to creating an unrivalled hospitality programme for all of FIFA’s events over the next 12 years.”
