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
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
