Yahoo! and FIFA Form Expansive Global Relationship For Soccer's FIFA World Cup, the World's Biggest Sporting Event

Business Wire, Sept 11, 2001

Sports Editors/Soccer Writers & Columnists

ZURICH, Switzerland--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 11, 2001

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO)

Leading Internet Company Named Exclusive Producer of FIFAworldcup.com

and Official Partner for the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups(TM)

-- FIFAworldcup.com to Feature Comprehensive Online Soccer Package

including Six Languages, Video of Past FIFA World Cups, Real-Time

Stats, Subscription Services, Wireless Internet Updates and the

Official FIFA World Cup e-Shop

Yahoo! Inc. (Nasdaq:YHOO), a leading global Internet communications, commerce and media company, today announced an exclusive, multi-year deal with the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the world governing body of soccer and host to the world's most popular sporting event. Through the agreement, Yahoo! will exclusively produce, market, host, and with FIFA, sell sponsorships of the official co-branded Web site of the FIFA World Cup(TM) (http://www.fifaworldcup.com) and has become one of 15 official worldwide FIFA Partners. The deal includes the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan(TM) (May 31 - June 30) and the 2006 FIFA World Cup(TM) in Germany. Today's announcement was made at a news conference from FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Video of the news conference can be viewed at http://webevents.broadcast.com/yahoo/fifa0901

"This relationship brings together the pinnacle of professional sports and the globally-recognized brand of Yahoo! to create an unprecedented FIFA World Cup experience for passionate fans everywhere," said Jeff Mallett, president and chief operating officer, Yahoo! Inc. "This expansive collaboration with FIFA further underscores the power of the Yahoo! network and its 24 properties worldwide as the partner of choice for sports rights holders and clients. Marketing and sponsorship packages available on FIFAworldcup.com also allow Yahoo! to demonstrate its ability to deliver on advertisers' goals by reaching their targeted audiences with creative, relevant and compelling solutions."

"FIFA is very pleased to announce this latest relationship for its flagship competition, the FIFA World Cup. With Yahoo! -- the Internet stalwart par excellence -- another truly global player has now completed the prestigious group of the 15 FIFA World Cup Partners," said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. "Together with Yahoo!, we are very much looking forward to keeping the football fans throughout the world online for the 64 matches of the final competition in Korea and Japan."

Considered the biggest global sports event, the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France drew a cumulative television audience of more than 33 billion viewers for its 64 matches. The 1998 FIFA World Cup Final match between France and Brazil was viewed by one billion people, far exceeding the nearly 140 million viewers of the NFL Super Bowl each year. Moreover, the event's official Web site, www.France98.com, registered 1.1 billion page views during the 33 days of the event itself. Combining the worldwide popularity of both the FIFA World Cup and the Internet, along with Yahoo!'s 200 million unique monthly visitors, the aim will be to exceed this mark and create a new precedent for event traffic.

FIFAworldcup.com

The official multi-lingual FIFA World Cup Web site, produced, marketed, sold and hosted by Yahoo!, is expected to bring soccer fans around the world a comprehensive package of content (from the most accurate updates and analysis to interactive features) in a user-friendly and entertaining way. For the millions of passionate soccer fans who will be following results at all hours of the day and night, the Internet is expected to serve as an essential service, providing up to date information and extensive FIFA World Cup resources -- regardless of location or time zone. The official FIFA World Cup Web site will be available in six languages -- English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, French and German.

Below is a list of some site features that will be available to fans around the world leading up to and during the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan(TM). Additional details about these features and tools, including free and pay-for services, are expected later in the year and in early 2002:

-- "FIFA Club" -- Die-hard fans can join this exclusive online club to be at
the heart of the online event community, where they can access unique content,
receive special deals and official promotions

-- FIFA World Cup TV -- live broadcast streaming of events surrounding the
month-long World Cup

-- Archived Video Highlights -- See past FIFA World Cup matches, including Best
Goals of the Century, Dream Team

-- Official live real-time stats that keep fans on top of the action from
anywhere in the world

-- Wireless Internet Updates -- Fans can stay in step with every goal while
away from their PC

-- Predict-the-Winner Games -- Fans can play against other fans, predicting the
winners of each match through a customized bracket game

-- Official E-Shop -- Official jerseys, hats, pins, programs and other
memorabilia

-- Official Auctions -- Fans can buy or sell FIFA World Cup items

-- News Room -- From the final draw to the final match, complete with news,
recaps, analysis, team and player coverage from sources around the world
providing fans a global perspective with a local viewpoint

-- Official E-Mail and Fan Communication Tools -- One World, One Cup, One Site
only where fans can communicate with other fans through e-mail, instant
messenger, chat, groups and message boards