Qatar Airways has entered into a partnership with Fifa, the global governing body of football, through which it will sponsor the 2022 World Cup in its home country and a number of other tournaments.
Qatar Airways will serve as a top-tier official partner and the official airline of Fifa until 2022. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed but Fifa said the partnership represents “one of the biggest sponsorships in the world” and the largest in Qatar Airways’ history.
The airline will sponsor this year’s Confederations Cup and the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the Club World Cup and the 2019 Women’s World Cup in France, as well as the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Qatar Airways will benefit from extensive marketing and branding rights at the next two World Cups and will also be granted visibility at the U20 World Cup, the Futsal World Cup and the Interactive World Cup esports competition.
Fifa secretary general Fatma Samoura said: “Known for introducing industry firsts, Qatar Airways is an ideal partner for Fifa as we prepare for the first-ever World Cup in the Gulf region, the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. We look forward to working hand in hand with Qatar Airways to promote Fifa competitions and football around the world.”
The airline joins Adidas, Coca-Cola, Gazprom, Hyundai, Visa and the Wanda Group as top-tier official partners of Fifa. The body has been without an official airline since Dubai-based carrier Emirates opted against renewing its partnership with Fifa in November 2014. Emirates sponsored the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cups.
Qatar Airways’ sponsorship portfolio also includes Spanish LaLiga football team Barcelona, cycling’s UCI Road World Championships and Formula E electric car-racing events in Paris and New York.