The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced a global partnership with the Qatari premium airline service company, Qatar Airways that will change fan experiences at Asian football tournaments in the forthcoming years.
The collaboration will stretch from 2023 to 2029, beginning with the Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which is set to begin on January 12, 2024.
Moreover, the rights package also encompasses all AFC youth national team events during the era, in addition to other important competitions including the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2024, 2026, and 2028, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026, and the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2024.
The AFC Champions League 2023–24 Knockout Stage matches and the three eagerly awaited new AFC flagship club competitions, the AFC Champions League Elite, the AFC Women’s Champions League, and the AFC Champions League 2, which are set to begin next season, are additionally supported by Qatar Airways through this deal.
As part of the partnership, Qatar Airways and the AFC will collaborate to offer thrilling travel packages to football enthusiasts throughout the world. Packages for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar will be the first of this kind, bringing ardent supporters closer to the action than ever and revolutionising the way Asian football is experienced by supporters throughout the continent.
AFC, General Secretary, Datuk Seri Windsor John, said, “It is with great enthusiasm we welcome Qatar Airways on board as the AFC’s newest partner. This collaboration again underlines the ever-growing appeal of the AFC’s world-class competitions and embodies the AFC and Qatar Airways’ shared commitment to excellence and elevating the sports experience for fans worldwide.
“With Qatar Airways, we look forward to expanding our global footprint. This partnership not only connects fans across borders but also enhances the accessibility of our sports events on a truly international scale with seamless and convenient travel experiences.”
Qatar Airways Group,Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, said, “Qatar Airways is excited to welcome the AFC to our robust sports sponsorship portfolio. This is a monumental occasion which marks our shared commitment to connecting people across borders and promoting competitive sportsmanship. As the Best Airline in the Middle East, we look forward to welcoming fans from the region on our expansive network to experience Qatar’s unique sports offerings.
“We will work together with the AFC to help create thrilling moments of football excellence in the upcoming years, kicking off with the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 which is due to be held next month in state-of-the-art venues across the country.”
The relationship with the AFC demonstrates Qatar Airways’s dedication to its aim of linking the globe as it continues to bring people closer through the power of sports, as proven by its existing agreements with many prestigious football and sports bodies throughout the world.