FIFA-Alibaba deal rests on China play

E-commerce giant's sports unit eyes more matches in the country

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's sports unit said its discussions with FIFA on becoming a top-level sponsor of the World Cup hinges on more Chinese involvement in the world's most-watched sporting event.

Alibaba Sports Group Chief Executive Officer Zhang Dazhong confirmed the talks with FIFA, reported by Bloomberg in May, in an interview in Shanghai on Wednesday. If it makes the multimillion-dollar commitment, Alisports, as the company is known, would become FIFA's second Chinese sponsor after Dalian Wanda Group Co pledged its support in March to the scandal-plagued football governing body until 2030.