SAN FRANCISCO: After defeating MasterCard in a penalty shootout for sponsorship of the World Cup, Visa International has now passed responsibility for its $200 million ($400.9m; €297m) worldwide ad account to the London office of US independent shop Wieden + Kennedy.
Visa began its search for an agency last year, but the review was put on hold after a legal dispute over a claimed deal between FIFA, football's governing body, and MasterCard, the tournament's previous sponsors.
The lawsuit was settled last week.
Other agencies pitching for the World Cup brief included the London offices of Saatchi & Saatchi, RKCR/Y&R and 180 Amsterdam.
Visa's sponsorship of the competition will extend for the next two tournaments (in 2010 and 2014). It is also sponsoring the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Data sourced from AdAge.com; additional content by WARC staff
