ZURICH.- Qatar Airways renewed its contract to continue as the airline sponsor of the World Cup of men in North America 2026 and that of the tournament in 2030, which is expected to be in Europe, Africa and South Americaannounced on Wednesday the FIFA.
The state airline has just completed an initial agreement for the last two World Cups: Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022.
An airline sponsorship will be vacated for the 2034 tournament, which appears on track to take place in Saudi Arabia. The Saudis plan to launch a second national airline to be named after Riyadh Air.
The amount of the new agreement was not disclosed. Qatar Airways, but it is estimated that it must be hundreds of millions of dollars. In the finals of the recent world championships, the employees who participated in the presentation of the trophy and medals were dressed in the airline’s uniform.
Qatar Airways was one of the seven main sponsors of the world of men during the 2019-2022 business cycle, one in which the FIFA claims to have pocketed almost $1.8 billion in commercial rights revenue.
The agreement includes some youth tournaments of the FIFA and the 2027 Women’s World Cup whose headquarters will be selected next May.
The 2026 World Cup It will be the first tournament with the expanded format of 48 teams instead of 32, with 104 games being played instead of 64. The teams, fans and officials will have to travel throughout 16 cities in USA, Canada and Mexico.
The 2030 tournament will have even more extensive travel, since it will be played in six countries spread over three continents.
FIFA still to decide:
The FIFA announced last month that there is only one candidacy. It is the joint of Spain-Portugalwhich added to Morocco this year and which now includes Argentina, Paraguay and UruguaySouth American neighbors who will host one match each as part of the tournament’s centenary celebration. Uruguay was the headquarters of the first world in 1930.
The hosts of the 2030 and 2034 World Cups will be formally announced next year.
FOUNTAIN: AP
