FIFA and Qatar Airways announced yesterday the signing of a deal to be one of the official sponsors and the official airline of the next two World Cups, in Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
Qatar Airways did not dislosed the value of the deal, as the airline joins Coca-Cola, Wanda Grouo, Gazprom, Adidas, Visa and Hyundai as official FIFA partners.
Qatar Airways will be an Official Partner and the Official Airline of FIFA as part of a sponsorship package lasting until 2022. Upcoming events sponsored by Qatar Airways will include the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the FIFA Club World Cup, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019™ and the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.
As an Official Partner of FIFA, Qatar Airways will have extensive marketing and branding rights at the next two FIFA World Cups, with an expected audience reach of more than two billion people per tournament. It will also have visibility at competitions such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the FIFA Interactive World Cup, the world’s largest online gaming tournament.
The partnership represents one of the biggest sporting sponsorships in the world and the largest in the history of Qatar Airways. Today’s announcement builds on Qatar Airways’ sponsorship strategy with major sporting clubs and events around the globe, which includes partnerships with FC Barcelona and Saudi Arabia’s Al-Ahli FC, as well as with Formula E races in Paris and New York, and the UCI Road World Championships, most recently held in Doha, Qatar.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura:
“FIFA is delighted to partner with the world’s fastest-growing airline, Qatar Airways. 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.“
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr Akbar Al Baker:
“Qatar Airways understands the power of sport in bringing people together in the spirit of friendly competition. FIFA, as the governing body of the world’s most popular sporting tournament, the FIFA World Cup, understands the power of football’s popularity, and as such is a natural partner for Qatar Airways. We look forward to celebrating wins with the fans, being inspired by the artistry of the players, and to the excitement of each match over the next two FIFA competition cycles, until the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in our home country, the State of Qatar.”
