FIFA and Qatar Airways Expand Their Collaboration

Qatar Airways, a longstanding collaborator of FIFA, has chosen to extend its partnership with the global football organization. Unfortunately, the specific details of this extension remain undisclosed at present. With an established history of engaging in sports sponsorships, Qatar Airways has maintained a partnership with FIFA for several years, even securing its position as the official airline of Formula 1 in recent times. As reported by Sport Business, the Gulf carrier has recently broadened its collaboration with FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association). However, it remains uncertain whether Qatar Airways' commitment now extends through the 2026 World Cup or the event in 2030. Notably, FIFA has ongoing partnerships with four brands set to run until 2030, suggesting a similar timeframe for Qatar's extension. The existing partnership encompasses FIFA's men's, women's, and youth events, with the most recent inclusion being the 2023 Women's World Cup, which concluded a few days ago. Throughout the matches, Qatar Airways' branding adorned the sides of the pitches and was prominently featured on the football organization's official website.

Originally announced in 2017, just prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Qatar Airways' collaboration with FIFA has since seen the airline sponsor various FIFA tournaments, including the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Women's World Cup, and two editions of the men's World Cup. Notably, in 2022, Qatar played host to the entire men's tournament, with 64 matches taking place in and around Doha's newly constructed stadiums over the course of about one month.

During critical moments such as the final and third-place matches, Qatar Airways' cabin crew had a visible presence, presenting medals to the gold, silver, and bronze medallists of each team. Additionally, the airline partnered with FIFA to showcase the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Winner's Trophy in Sydney, providing fans with an opportunity to get up close to this prestigious trophy. Al Baker, Qatar Airways' CEO, emphasized the success of the tournament and underscored how the partnership with FIFA aligns with the airline's overarching goal of connecting people through the medium of sports.