
Qatar Airways elevates global football journey with FIFA Club World Cup 2025 partnership
DOHA: Qatar Airways, the Official Airline Partner of FIFA since May 2017, continues to expand its global football footprint by joining the first-ever FIFA Club World Cup 2025 as Official Airline Partner, bringing world-class football and world-class hospitality together for fans in the US and across the globe.
The airline finds itself in familiar grounds following the momentum of its historic 'Sponsorship treble', where Qatar Airways was the Official Airline Partner of the UEFA Champions League, as well as being sponsor of both finalists – Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. Both of these teams will also be competing in the FIFA Club World Cup, where Qatar Airways will offer fans exclusive experiences at the tournament, and feature prominently in the tournament branding.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer, Eng Badr Mohammed Al Meer, said: "The new agreement with FIFA underlines what we value most – teaming up with the pinnacle of sport to bring fans closer to the action. The presence of Qatar Airways at this ground-breaking tournament goes beyond branding, as we look to elevate the fan experience and connect them through our global network of more than 170 destinations, with 11 gateways in the United States. We are proud to be here, and play our role in uniting players, officials and fans through the power of football and global travel."
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, said: 'We are thrilled to deepen our partnership with Qatar Airways as we embark on this exciting new chapter with the FIFA Club World Cup – a truly historic moment for world football. Their passion for excellence and their ability to connect people around the world make them the perfect partner for this incredible new tournament, which will bring together 32 of the world's top clubs for a celebration unlike anything we've seen before. Truly, and for the first time, club football will unite the world – and Qatar Airways will be a key partner to the FIFA Club World Cup in making this happen.'
The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will be held across 12 venues in the United States. The opening match will take place on Saturday, 14 June in Miami, before a month of action culminates in the historic final in New York New Jersey on Sunday, 13 July.
Unlike ever before, the tournament aims to deliver a truly global club football tournament. As for fans seeking to be a part of the action, Qatar Airways operates to 11 cities in the United States, seven of them being host venues of the FIFA Club World Cup: Boston, Dallas Fort-Worth, Washington, Houston, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, Philadelphia, Seattle and San Francisco.
The partnership with FIFA is part of Qatar Airways' portfolio of high-profile global sports partnerships, including the likes of UEFA, AFC, Paris-Saint Germain (PSG), FC Internazionale Milano, Tennis Legend – Novak Djokovic, The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Formula 1, MotoGP, the IRONMAN Triathlon Series, the United Rugby Championship (URC) and European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR), French Rugby Team – Section Paloise, The British and Irish Lions Tour of Australia 2025, The Brooklyn Nets NBA Team, and multiple other disciplines including Australian football, equestrian, motor racing, padel, squash, and tennis.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Qatar Tribune
3 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar interested in hosting ‘carbon-neutral' 2029 Club World Cup: Report
DPA Berlin Qatar is reportedly the latest country interested in hosting the next Club World Cup in 2029, which may then be a tournament in the European winter just like the 2022 World Cup. British paper The Guardian said on Saturday that Qatari officials 'have held talks with FIFA officials at the highest level' during the current edition in the United States and have 'indicated a desire to stage the next edition in four years' time.' The report said that Qatar pledges a carbon-neutral event because of short distances between venues which are to be the same ones used for the World Cup three years ago. The tournament in the US is under criticism over long distances between venues, the heat and storms which have led to several matches stopped, and also pitch conditions. Qatar's summer heat is even more intense which, if chosen, would mean that a Club World Cup there would be played in winter, possibly in December. The World Cup there took place mid-November to mid-December. European clubs may not be happy about another disruption of their season in such a scenario, but the US tournament comes at the end of their season amid player welfare concerns. A winter tournament would also either be just six months ahead of the 2030 World Cup, or if played in December 2028, half a year after Euro 2028 and the Copa America. Qatar are yet to make their interest official, while Spain and Morocco, two of the countries to host the 2030 World Cup, have each declared interest along with Brazil.


Al Jazeera
18 hours ago
- Al Jazeera
For Cristiano Ronaldo, rest takes preference over Club World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo says he preferred to take a rest rather than play in the revamped FIFA Club World Cup as he aims to prolong his playing career for club and country. The Portuguese international, who recently led his country to the UEFA Nations League title, made the comments on Saturday, two days after extending his stay at Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr. Al Nassr announced on Thursday that Ronaldo had signed a two-year contract which would keep him at the club past his 42nd birthday and possibly his last appearance in the FIFA World Cup at its next iteration in the United States, Canada and Mexico in 2026. Speculation over the 40-year-old's plans intensified last month when FIFA President Gianni Infantino said discussions were under way about Ronaldo playing in the Club World Cup, despite Al Nassr failing to qualify, but the star forward swiftly brushed them aside. 'I had some offers to play in the [Club] World Cup but I think it didn't make sense because I prefer to have a good rest, a good preparation, because this season will be very long as it is the World Cup season at the end of the year,' Ronaldo said in a video posted by Al Nassr on X. 'I want to be ready not only for Al Nassr but also for the national team. So, this is why I decided to play the last game for the Nations League and not listen to anything,' he added. 'And of course, to be in this club, which I love'. Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027 💛🤩 — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) June 26, 2025 Ronaldo scored for Portugal in the Nations League final against Spain earlier this month, which ended 2-2 before his side went on to beat the European champions on penalties. The Portugal captain said his aim in staying at Al Nassr was to win a major trophy with the Riyadh-based side. 'My goal, it's always to win something important for Al-Nassr. And of course I still believe in that,' Ronaldo added. 'This is why I renewed the two years more because I believe that I will be a champion in Saudi Arabia.' Ronaldo, who joined Al Nassr in 2022 after leaving Manchester United as a free agent, has scored 93 goals in 105 appearances for them in all competitions. Ronaldo is also eyeing the 1,000-goal milestone in his career. He has scored 794 goals in club football and 138 for Portugal, taking his tally to 932.


Al Jazeera
a day ago
- Al Jazeera
Messi prepares to face former club and European champions PSG
Who: Paris Saint-Germain vs Inter Miami What: FIFA Club World Cup round of 16 Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, United States When: Sunday, June 30 at 12pm (16:00 GMT) How to follow: We'll have all the build-up on Al Jazeera Sport from 9am local (13:00 GMT) in advance of our live text commentary stream. FIFA's Club World Cup serves up a treat in the round of 16 as Lionel Messi leads Inter Miami against his former club, Paris Saint-Germain. The Argentinian international forward joined the French giants, and now first-time European champions, from the club he represented since childhood, Barcelona. PSG's coveted European success was not forthcoming, and Messi headed for new pastures with his 2023 move to Major League Soccer. Now, Messi faces a PSG side shorn of many of the Galacticos recruited to seal European glory, but full of youthful exuberance and riding the crest of their Champions League wave. Al Jazeera Sport takes a closer look at the match. Why does Messi's Miami vs PSG carry such weight? When PSG meet Inter Miami, it will mark a rare reunion of European football greats, all layered with old loyalties, recent regrets and the chance for Lionel Messi to settle a score. Sunday's game features a compelling contrast of eras – a PSG side powered by youth and energy fresh off their maiden Champions League title, and an Inter Miami team built around ageing-but-iconic former Barcelona stars. On the PSG touchline, Luis Enrique comes face to face with four players he once led at Barcelona: Messi, Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets. They are all now reunited under Miami coach Javier Mascherano, another figure from Luis Enrique's treble-winning era at Camp Nou. 'Luis Enrique is a phenomenon,' Alba said this week. 'I'm excited to see him and will give him a hug, but when the ref blows the opening whistle, we'll try to beat him.' Suarez, now 38, reflected on his former manager's impact: 'I already had a competitive DNA, but he injected even more into me,' he said. Do the Barcelona contingent have history with PSG? In another layer of intrigue, Miami's contingent of former Barcelona players were all part of 2017's 'Remontada' against PSG. That was PSG's darkest night, when Barca thrashed them 6-1 in Spain after losing 4-0 in Paris in their last-16 Champions League tie. That was when Miami's veterans were at their peak. Now, they rely on memory and rhythm, while PSG's core has been reshaped by a rising generation: Bradley Barcola, Desire Doue and Vitinha have helped inject fresh energy into Luis Enrique's system, culminating in a Champions League triumph just weeks ago. How did PSG fare in the group stage? The Parisian side arrive in Atlanta after a 1–0 loss to Brazil's Botafogo in the group stage, which raised questions about fatigue following a long European season. Though PSG remain heavy favourites on paper, that defeat showed cracks in a squad that has played more high-stakes matches than most of their rivals. PSG took their group with wins in their opening games against Atletico Madrid and Seattle Sounders. How did Inter Miami fare in the group stage? Inter Miami finished second in their group behind Palmeiras with one win and two draws to their name. The Messi-inspired 2-1 win against Porto was crucial to their progress. Can Miami's Argentina axis take down PSG? 'It will be an honour for me facing a great coach, one of the greatest I've had in my career,' said Mascherano of Luis Enrique. Now in his first major club coaching role, Mascherano brings an emotional edge and tactical sharpness to a Miami side that, while physically limited by age, can still threaten, especially with Messi in form. The Argentina great endured a turbulent two-year stint at PSG after leaving Barcelona in 2021. Though he won domestic silverware, Messi never found peace in Paris and, after his World Cup win in 2022, some fans turned on him. 'I didn't enjoy myself at PSG,' Messi told reporters earlier this year. 'It was a tough period.' Mascherano believes that memory still drives him. 'When something's stuck in his mind, Messi gives a little extra,' he said this week. What went so wrong for Messi at PSG? PSG had made it to the Champions League final and then semifinals in the two seasons prior to Messi's arrival, so he looked like the final piece in the jigsaw. Instead, they went backwards with him in the side, going out of Europe's elite club competition in the last 16 two years running. Having to fit in Messi, with his estimated annual salary of 30 million euros ($35.2 million) after tax, as well as Neymar and Mbappe, may have increased the star appeal, but it weakened them as a team. Towards the end, the Barcelona legend was even being jeered by some sections of the PSG support who felt Messi's commitment to the cause was not what it should have been. Messi was a PSG player when he inspired Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in late 2022, but there were only flashes of his genius at club level in France. His statistics stand up to any scrutiny, with 32 goals and 35 assists in 75 appearances, and he did win two Ligue 1 titles while helping increase PSG's value as a brand. Miami coach Javier Mascherano, meanwhile, believes the unhappy memory of his time in Paris could spur Messi on. 'It's clear that for us it's better if he plays angry, because he's one of those players who, when he has something on his mind, gives an extra effort,' Mascherano told ESPN. How did PSG fare last season? PSG's stunning 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in Munich at the end of last month, which allowed them to win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, completed an incredible treble-winning season for the Qatar-backed side under the coaching of Luis Enrique. How did Inter Miami fare last season? Miami finished as the club with the most points in Major League Soccer's (MLS) regular season, handing them a place at the Club World Cup instead of LA Galaxy, who won the MLS Cup, which is regarded as the highest prize in the MLS. FIFA announced Miami's addition to the Club World Cup in October after they broke MLS's regular-season points record with a 6-2 win over New England Revolution to reach 74 points, one better than the previous record set by New England in 2021. PSG team news Ousmane Dembele has just resumed training after overcoming a hamstring injury, but may not even be fit enough for the bench. Goncalo Ramos and Bradley Barcola are vying to start with Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in. Youngster Senny Mayulu was selected for the match against Seattle in Dembele's role. Inter Miami team news Jordi Alba has returned from injury and will challenge youngster Noah Allen for the left-back position. Drake Callender, Gonzalo Lujan and Yannick Bright are all still sidelined. Veteran goalkeeper Oscar Ustari will continue to deputise for the former. PSG predicted starting lineup: Donnarumma; Hakimi, Marquinhos, Pacho, Mendes; Ruiz, Vitinha, Neves; Kvaratskhelia, Ramos, Doue Inter Miami predicted starting lineup: Ustari; Weigandt, Aviles, Falcon, Allen; Allende, Redondo, Busquets, Segovia; Messi, Suarez PSG form guide (all competitions): W-W-W-L-W Inter Miami form guide (all competitions): W-W-D-W-D