FIFA Renews With Qatar Airways as Sponsor for 2026 and 2030 Men’s World Cups

Qatar Airways has been renewed as the airline sponsor for the men’s World Cup in 2026 in North America and the 2030 tournament expected to be in Europe, Africa and South America, FIFA said, extending its original two-tournament deal that started with the 2018 event in Russia.

The value of the new Qatar Airways deal was not disclosed. At World Cup finals, trophy and medal presentation assistants are dressed in the airline’s uniform.

The airline was among seven top-tier men’s World Cup sponsors in the 2019-2022 commercial cycle, which FIFA said earned almost $1.8 billion in total marketing rights sales. It includes selected FIFA youth tournaments and the 2027 Women’s World Cup, which will have a host chosen in May.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first expanded tournament with 48 teams instead of 32, playing 104 games instead of 64, sending teams, fans and officials across 16 cities in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2030 World Cup is set to include more long-haul travel than originally expected, playing games in six countries on three continents. South American neighbors Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay will host one game each as part of a centenary celebration. Uruguay was the inaugural World Cup host in 1930. After the South American games, the Spain-Portugal co-hosting plan that added Morocco will host the rest of the tournament.

The World Cup airline slot should next be vacant for the 2034 tournament, which is expected to be hosted by Saudi Arabia. The Saudis plan to launch a second national carrier called Riyadh Air.