FIFA’s Club World Championship Global Rights Awarded To Brazilian Sports Marketing Agency.
February 5, 2001
FIFA has awarded Brazil’s leading sports marketing agency, Traffic Sports Marketing, the global marketing and commercialization rights for soccer’s Club World Championship. This is the first time FIFA has awarded the marketing and commercialization rights to a third party on a global basis. The tournament, to be held in Spain between July 28 and August 12, brings together twelve of the world’s leading soccer clubs to dispute a total purse of US$40 million.
Under the agreement, Traffic will be responsible for negotiating broadcast, sponsorship, licensing, advertising and other promotional opportunities on behalf of FIFA. The 2001 tournament will be the second time the Club World Championship will be played. The 2000 edition saw Brazil’s Corinthians crowned champions in a tournament which reached 125 million television viewers in 32 countries.
Club World Championship
The Club World Championship will match 12 of the world’s leading soccer teams over a 15-day period in Spain. The tournament draw will take place on March 6 in La Coruna, Spain and will place the 12 teams in three groups of four. The top finisher from each group and best second place finisher across groups will pass to the semi-finals.
Teams qualify on the basis of their performance in continental soccer confederation competition. The 2001 tournament will feature:
Africa: Al-Hilal (Saudi Arabia) – Winners Asian Super Cup 2000
Accra Hearts of Oak (Ghana) – Winners CAF Champions League 2000
Zamalek (Egypt) – Winners CAF Cup of Cup Winners 2000
Asia: Asia Jubilo Iwata (Japan) – Winners Asian Super Cup 1999
Europe:Real Madrid (Spain) – Winner of the 2000 Champions League
Galatasaray (Turkey) – Winner of the 2000 UEFA Super CupDeportivo Coruna – Spanish and host country champions 1999/2000
North/Central America: Los Angeles Galaxy (U.S.) – 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup winners
CD Olimpia (Honduras) – 2000 CONCACAF Champions’ Cup runners-up
Oceania: Wollongong Wolves (Australia) – 2001 Oceania Champions’ Cup winners
South America: Palmeiras (Brazil) – Winners Copa Libertadores 1999
Boca Juniors (Argentina) – Winners Copa Libertadores 2000
