KOREAN CARMAKER Hyundai has signed a four-year contract with the Chinese Football Association (CFA) – paying up to 200m yuan ($31.5m) in sponsorship fees depending on the national team’s results.
The strategic partnership deal makes Hyundai the greatest corporate contributor to the CFA in relation to the national team, taking over the mantle from the incumbent kit supplier adidas.
Hyundai will invest at least 40m yuan ($6.3m) per year and an extra 40m yuan ($6.3m) if China makes it to the final round of Asian qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“We will begin a new era with such a big sponsorship. We will work together to improve the game and our national team's performances," said CFA chief Wei Di during the signing ceremony in Beijing.
Last year, the CFA signed a three-year agreement with Chinese real estate platform Dalian Wanda worth 500m yuan ($78.5m) over three years in a deal which gives Dalian title sponsorship rights to the Chinese Super League.
Nike is the official kit supplier to Chinese Super League teams in a league-wide deal worth around $15m per year.
China's only World Cup appearance was at the 2002 event hosted by South Korea and Japan.