Bangkok--25 Jun--Spark Communications
Dynamic interactive social engagement programs is enabling fans to be part of the FIFA World Cup celebration
Visa, the global leader in payments, and FIFA’s exclusive Financial Services partner for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, continues its global FIFA World Cup activation program, enhancing the sporting experience for millions of fans, clients and partners in 104 countries worldwide, including in Thailand.
“Our goal is to make it easy, engaging and relevant for everyone, everywhere, to connect to the FIFA World Cup and be part of the collective experience,” said Charlie Scharf, chief executive officer, Visa Inc. “From immersive fan engagement programs to innovative partnerships that help advance the next generation of payment technologies in Brazil, Visa is connecting more people than ever before with this momentous global event.”
Connecting Global Fans Through Unique Social Experiences
As the world continues its excitement of the FIFA World Cup, Visa is using extensive video elements along with interactive tools to engage with viewers, while also customizing content and programs based on individual interests and affinities. New capabilities offered by social media partners, including Facebook and Twitter, is enabling Visa to more dynamically target and connect with fans, as tournament events and corresponding conversations unfold.
Available at www.worldcup.visa.com, Visa allows fans to watch, learn, share and express their FIFA World Cup excitement in their own unique way with:
Samba of the World – a first time program for Visa, this creative effort enlists the help of 32 global filmmakers, each representing one of the qualifying countries in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Each local artist created a 90-second film, using the same format and music track, to show how their country celebrates the World Cup. An interactive video player on Visa’s site allows fans to view and share all of the films – immersing themselves and their friends in the history, traditions and passions of each competing nation.
Visa Fanbassadors – a group of 10 culture thought leaders and content creators from football passionate countries like Brazil, Mexico, Japan and the UK, have been embedded at the FIFA World Cup by Visa, to capture and curate the tournament’s most defining moments through video and photo content. Fans can experience and share this content through social channels across Visa’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/visa) and Twitter feed (@visa; www.twitter.com/visa).
Visa Teletransporter – a fun, creative program that allows FIFA World Cup enthusiasts to transport themselves into the center of FIFA-inspired events. Fans simply insert their personal image into a series of videos that can be shared via social networks. Whether it’s enjoying a romantic dinner with former FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFA World Cup winner, Fabio Cannavaro, juggling a football with three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and FIFA World Cup winner, Zinedine Zidane, or scoring that one pivotal tournament goal -- fans can place themselves right at the scene. Throughout the tournament, Visa is releasing additional videos, drawing on real-time game moments to further take fans where they want to be.
Visa Financial Football – In support of this year’s tournament, Visa launched a new FIFA World Cup-themed educational video game. By harnessing the passion for football and the World Cup, Visa has built a free, online game that helps teach the fundamentals of personal finance to students and adults around the globe. Coupled with a companion classroom curriculum, the game has been translated into more than a dozen languages in 30 countries. Having been played three million times to-date at www.FinancialFootball.com, this financial literacy tool has helped pioneer the field of personal finance gamification.
Visa’s Connection to FIFA
Visa’s FIFA sponsorship links the world’s leading payment brand, and football, the world’s most passionately followed sport, in a unique relationship that builds brand affinity, loyalty and preference for Visa, while enabling greater inclusion and active participation in FIFA World Cup events.
The partnership provides Visa with exclusive rights in the Financial Services product category for the FIFA World Cup™ and more than 40 other FIFA competitions that may be activated by financial institution clients and merchant partners. Only Visa-branded credit, debit and prepaid cards, along with cash, will be accepted for purchases at all FIFA venues.
A FIFA Partner since 2007, Visa announced an eight year renewal of its partnership in January 2014 in the Payment Services category, extending its rights through the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.