May 16 – FIFA has announced the final sponsor partner in its World Cup programme, signing Centauro, south America’s leading sports retailer, as a National Supporter. The announcement was made by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke in Rio following a meeting of the local organising committee board.
FIFA has now completed its World Cup sponsorship programme – which comprises six FIFA partners, eight FIFA World Cup sponsors and six national supporters – with a year still to go before the start of the finals.
The addition of Centauro is an important landmark for FIFA as its preparations for the 2014 World Cup gather pace.
Founded in 1981, Centauro is the leading sporting goods retailer in Brazil and has expanded to 23 states. It now has more than 230 stores specialising in sporting equipment, footwear and apparel.
The company has not traditionally been an all-pervasive sponsor of sport in Brazil, but was a sponsor of the Superclássico das Américas soccer series between Brazil and Argentina and made its first foray into national tournament sponsorship, signing a deal to sponsor the Copa do Brasil, in 2012. It also has a sponsor partnership with Brazil’s Serie B.
Centauro joins other FIFA World Cup 2014 national sponsors ApexBrasil (the trade and investments authority), Garoto (confectionery manufacturer), Itau (bank), Liberty Seguros (insurance company) and WiseUp (language school).
The agreement grants Centauro marketing rights within Brazil to promote itself in association with the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the FIFA Confederations Cup.
“We’re delighted to welcome Centauro on board and complete our sponsorship sales with over one year to go until the event.” said Thierry Weil, FIFA’s marketing director.
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