FIFA awards 2006 sponsorship

ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- World soccer governing body FIFA has given exclusive rights to sell World Cup 2006 sponsorship contracts in most of Asia to Japanese company Dentsu.

In a statement released Monday, the soccer body said Dentsu will sell sponsorship and partnership agreements on behalf of FIFA Marketing. The deal covers Japan, East and Southeast Asia and Oceania.

"In addition, Dentsu will collaborate with FIFA Marketing as much as possible in other territories as well, by means of collective marketing efforts," FIFA said.

Under the deal, Dentsu will receive a commission for finding commercial sponsors and partners for the World Cup. Companies are offered a series of packages, which would include advertising boards at stadiums, the right to use the World Cup name in their own advertising or the right to call themselves "official parners" of the event.

Financial details were not released.

FIFA Marketing was set up by the soccer body earlier this year following the collapse of Swiss company ISL, which had held the contracts for marketing and broadcasting rights for much of the world. Dentsu has been FIFA's marketing agency in Japan since 1986.

The 2006 World Cup finals will take place in Germany.

Related information
Stories
Boavista misses shot to go grab Portuguese lead Olympique Lyonnais beats Bordeaux to snag second place
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.