Sports
Kia Offers Customers Chance to Attend FIFA World Cup 2026
Bookings from 12 February to 10 March 2026 unlock USA trips and pitch moments
MUMBAI- From showroom floors to stadium roars, Kia India is putting football fever into fifth gear. As anticipation builds for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the carmaker has unveiled two high-octane consumer initiatives that turn vehicle ownership into a ticket to the world’s biggest sporting stage.
Through ‘Kia Walk with Champions’ and ‘Kia Drive to FIFA World Cup 2026’, Kia is offering customers a chance not just to watch history unfold in the USA, but to step right into it.
A global official partner of FIFA since 2007 and long-standing official mobility partner for marquee tournaments, Kia is now extending that legacy to Indian customers with experiences that blend aspiration, sport and family emotion.
Under ‘Kia Walk with Champions’, two children aged between 10 and 14 will be selected to serve as Official Match Ball Carriers at a FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage match in the United States. Customers who book and complete the purchase of a Carens Clavis (ICE or EV) between 12 February and 10 March 2026 can register to participate. One winner each from the Carens Clavis ICE and Carens Clavis EV pool will be chosen through a third-party audited lucky draw.
Each selected child will walk onto the pitch alongside global football stars, accompanied by one parent or guardian. Kia will manage travel, visa and hospitality arrangements end to end, ensuring what the company describes as a seamless, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
The second initiative, ‘Kia Drive to FIFA World Cup 2026’, widens the net. Four customers across India will win an all-expenses-paid trip to attend a live World Cup match in the USA with premium hospitality included. Eligibility extends to those who book and complete the purchase of Seltos, Sonet, Syros or Carens Clavis (ICE/EV) within the same campaign window. One winner each will be selected from Seltos, Sonet and Syros, along with one winner from the Carens Clavis category.
Each winner can travel with one companion, making it a shared celebration rather than a solo spectacle. With just four winners nationwide, exclusivity is built into the design.
Kia India senior vice president for sales & marketing Atul Sood said the association with FIFA spans nearly two decades globally and reflects the brand’s ambition to create experiences that go beyond mobility. He described the World Cup as the pinnacle of global sporting passion and noted that enabling customers and their families to either witness a live match or see their child walk onto the pitch creates memories that last far longer than a matchday.
Participation in both initiatives requires bookings made between 12 February and 10 March 2026, with final eligibility subject to completion of purchase within the stipulated timeline and adherence to campaign terms. Winners will be determined through independently audited lucky draws to ensure transparency.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 expected to command global attention, Kia’s pitch is clear: buy a car, and you might just drive all the way to football’s grandest stage.
Sports
Sun TV sues Chennai Super Kings over use of Jailer, Coolie music in IPL promo
Network seeks Rs 1 crore in damages as Madras High Court directs CSK to confirm songs removed from jersey launch video
CHENNAI: A legal battle has erupted even before the first ball of IPL 2026 is bowled. Sun TV Network has moved the Madras High Court accusing Chennai Super Kings of copyright infringement over the alleged use of music, background scores and dialogues from the Rajinikanth films Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie in a promotional video for the franchise’s new jersey.
The commercial suit, filed by Sun TV Network Limited against Chennai Super Kings Cricket Limited and three of its officials, claims the IPL franchise used copyrighted audio content without obtaining a licence from the rights holder.
Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy heard preliminary submissions in the matter before adjourning the case to March 16. The court also directed CSK to file an affidavit confirming its statement that the songs in question are no longer being used in the team’s promotional material.
The suit names CSK chief executive and managing director Kasi Viswanathan, head of finance Avinash Sridharan and head of content Radhakrishnan Sreenivasan as defendants alongside the franchise company.
According to Sun TV, CSK released a promotional video on March 1 to unveil its IPL 2026 jersey across social media platforms including Instagram, X, YouTube and Facebook. The video allegedly incorporated audio tracks, background scores and dialogues from Jailer, its upcoming sequel Jailer-2 and Coolie — all Rajinikanth projects produced by Sun Pictures, the film production arm of Sun TV Network.
Jailer, released in 2023, emerged as one of the biggest Tamil box-office hits of the year. Its soundtrack by Anirudh Ravichander, particularly the viral track Hukum, became a staple across social media and stadium events. Sun TV told the court that Anirudh Ravichander had been engaged under agreements that vest all rights in the films’ music with the producer, making Sun TV the exclusive copyright holder authorised to license the music.
The network alleged that the content was used at several points in the video, including scenes depicting the arrival of CSK captain MS Dhoni at the team camp, to amplify the promotional appeal of the campaign. It argued that the video was designed to promote the team’s merchandise, including its IPL 2026 jersey sold online at around Rs 2,399, thereby generating commercial gain from copyrighted material.
Sun TV has sought a permanent injunction restraining CSK from using any songs, dialogues or background scores from its films across platforms including social media, stadium broadcasts and promotional campaigns. It has also demanded Rs 1 crore in damages and asked the court to direct the franchise to disclose revenues generated from the promotional campaign that allegedly used the copyrighted music.
Senior counsel J Ravindran, appearing for Sun TV, told the court that CSK had stopped using the songs after receiving an e-mail objecting to their use. Ravindran nevertheless urged the court to ensure that the franchise does not repeat the alleged infringement.
Senior counsel PS Raman, representing CSK, informed the court that the tracks from Jailer, Jailer-2 and Coolie had already been removed from the promotional video. Raman also assured the court that the franchise would obtain proper licences if it uses such material in the future.
With the IPL season approaching and the dispute now in court, the clash has added an unexpected off-field contest to cricket’s biggest league — one that will be fought not with bats and balls, but with copyrights and court orders.
