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New FIFA sponsor Wanda expects bigger say in World Cup bidding process

Xinhua, March 21, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese real estate and entertainment giant Wanda Group says becoming a FIFA top-tier sponsor will give it potential to help decide where future editions of the World Cup will be staged.

"If China lodges a bid to host the World Cup, Wanda will definitely back it," Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin told reporters here on Monday.

Wang revealed that another two Chinese company are in talks with FIFA over a top-tier sponsorship deal.

"Probably more Chinese companies will join the FIFA sponsors club. And, I think, it will boost China's chances of winning the host rights if the Chinese government decides to bid for it," said Wang.

Last week, Wanda signed a partnership with FIFA which runs through the 2030 World Cup. The contract will grant Wanda the highest level of sponsorship rights, which includes the next four FIFA World Cup editions.

Wang has built his firm into a property giant but has been diversifying into sports and entertainment in recent years. In 2015, Wanda bought Swiss firm Infront Sports & Media, World Triathlon Corp. and acquired a 20 percent stake in Spanish football team Atletico Madrid. Endit