FIFA Renew Appointment of MATCH Hospitality as Hospitality Rights Holder

FIFA announced today an extension to the appointment of MATCH Hospitality as the exclusive hospitality rights holder for the 2018 and the 2022 FIFA World Cups.

Following an industry evaluation conducted by FIFA, MATCH Hospitality emerged as the most suitable candidate. The appointment encompasses both the sale of hospitality packages on an exclusive worldwide basis and the operations of the FIFA hospitality programme for these events as well as for the FIFA Confederations Cups in 2017 and 2021 and the FIFA 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.

Thierry Weil, FIFA Marketing Director, said: “MATCH Hospitality delivered a successful hospitality programme in 2010 despite the very challenging economic situation influencing this particular industry at the time. 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.”

MATCH Hospitality has created a unique global network of exclusive and authorised sales agents, ensuring the widest possible distribution of commercial hospitality opportunities and easy access for their clients. More than 30 of the most renowned industry representatives have been appointed by MATCH Hospitality, each with specific experience in the marketing and sale of hospitality packages for major sporting events.

Jaime Byrom, MATCH Hospitality Executive Chairman, commented: “We are delighted that FIFA has decided to extend our cooperation until 2023. 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.”

The agreement also further strengthens FIFA’s fight against ticket touts. Thanks to their expertise and monitoring facilities, MATCH Hospitality will be in a position to 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 AG is based in Zurich with offices in Johannesburg and Rio de Janeiro, and the company’s shareholders are Byrom Holdings plc (65%), Dentsu Inc. (5%), Infront Sports & Media AG (5%), the Bidvest Group Limited (5%) and Winterhill Investments Limited (20%).