A World Cup summer has its own magic. With a fever pitch hype fuelled by Fifa’s gargantuan year-on-year marketing machine, necks across the globe will be firmly craned towards Rio by the time the tournament kicks off.
It will be memorable. The tension before a controversial free kick. A 20-pass move that slices an opposition defence to ribbons. Imagine being there.
A host of tickets are up for grabs to the great football factory of Brazil this summer. GN Focus gives the low down.
Hope for luck
What you should be glad about: That you texted “GO” to 2484 in order to register for the promotion.
What you should hope for: At least one purchase made on your Citibank Visa credit card in March is picked in April’s raffle draw.
The winnings: Two winners will get complete packages for a four-day trip to Brazil.
Spend Dh100
What you must do: Spend Dh100 in the UAE with your HSBC Visa credit or debit card to get into a draw. If you use your card abroad, your chances double.
What else you can do: If you apply for the card now, and it is accepted before April 20, you get a whopping ten entries into the draw.
The winnings: Five lucky winners will each receive two round-trip tickets from the UAE to Brazil; two tickets to a game and pre-match hospitality; three nights at a four-star hotel; $150 (Dh551) in a Visa prepaid money card; and official World Cup merchandise.
Call a number
What you must do: Call 800 KIAUAE (542823) and book a test drive of the latest models from Kia, one of six official Fifa World Cup partners. Subject to certain conditions, you could be a winner.
What else you can do: Visit any Kia showroom in the UAE to know more about the Cadenza, Optima and the new Quoris — all of which could win you a trip to Brazil. Alternatively, log on to its Facebook page and
register to play Kia Champ into the Arena five-a-side football tournament.
The winnings: All-expense-paid trips to Brazil, and/or tickets to quarter-final World Cup matches.
Buy a car
What you must do: Walk into any Hyundai car showroom in the UAE and drive out in
a Samba.
What you can expect: Buy a new car and you could be a lucky winner. The promotion offers new buyers zero per cent down
payment; a zero per cent profit rate for three years; free insurance; registration; and more.
The winnings: A travel package to the World Cup Final in Rio de Janeiro.
Enjoy your splurge
What pleases you at this point: That you spent Dh1,000 on your Standard Chartered debit card in the UAE or abroad to get into the draw.
What you can hope for: That one of your entries received for spends on a Standard Chartered Visa debit card
is picked out in the draw.
The winnings: Two winners will attend World Cup group matches. The four-day/three-night package includes two return tickets to Sao Paulo, four-star accommodation with breakfast, Category 2 match tickets, $150 in a Visa prepaid money card and official Fifa World Cup merchandise. The package also includes group activities, ground transport, meet-and-greet services, and support from Visa event staff.
Get a card
What you must do: Apply for a Fifa World Cup Mashreq Visa card, and every Dh100 you spend until May 10 will get you an entry into the grand draw. There is a minimum spend of Dh3,000 — but that gives 30 chances to win.
What else comes with this card: The Fifa World Cup Mashreq Visa card is packed with pleasing offers for football fans: free jerseys, miniature replicas of the World Cup trophy, copies of the Fifa 14 console title, discounts at sports stores and several other benefits, including discounted holiday packages to Brazil. “[This card] lets you live the entire 2014 Fifa World Cup Brazil experience right from the time you place it in your wallet,” says Nimish Dwivedi, Head of Payments, Mashreq.
The winnings: Grand draw winners will each get a three-day/four-night package that includes a pair of return tickets, four-star accommodation with breakfast, Category 2 match tickets, $150 in a Visa prepaid money card, and official World
Cup merchandise. The package also includes group activities, ground transportation, as well as meet-and-greet services.
Buy a meal
What you must do: Pick up a large extra value meal at McDonald’s to collect your game card for the Big Match competition from the World Cup’s official restaurant. Calorie-conscious? Opt for a grilled burger with water — and share those fries.
What you can expect: The game card offers the chance several instant prizes, and if you register the provided code on McDonaldsArabia.com, you will qualify for the daily draw.
The winnings: Besides the instant prizes, 42 winners are being offered all-expense-paid trips to watch matches in Brazil.
