American Airlines and Qatar Airways to support FIFA World Cup 2026

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Caroline Clayton Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at American Airlines, | Official Website

By Sky Industry News

Apr 21, 2025

American Airlines has secured a significant partnership with FIFA, positioning itself as the Official North American Airline Supplier for the upcoming World Cup in 2026. This event will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Collaborating with Qatar Airways, the Global Airline Partner for FIFA, American Airlines aims to provide seamless travel experiences for fans and teams throughout the tournament.

Caroline Clayton, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications at American Airlines, remarked, "We are proud to partner with FIFA and look forward to connecting fans to all FIFA World Cup 26 matches. As the home team for this historic event, we look forward to flying fans across North America to experience the passion, energy and diversity of the beautiful game.”

The tournament will feature 48 teams and 104 matches, marking a first in its history. American Airlines already operates over 2,200 daily flights to key host cities spanning the three countries. Its expansive network will be vital in meeting the expected high demand from attendees.

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The airline's centennial celebration coincides with the World Cup, making the partnership particularly meaningful. American Airlines has further engaged its loyal customers by offering them a chance to win match tickets through sweepstakes on its website.

Thierry Antinori, Chief Commercial Officer at Qatar Airways, expressed support for the partnership, emphasizing that their combined networks and loyalty programs would provide millions of travelers with convenient options during the tournament. Qatar Airways has been affiliated with FIFA since 2017, and the partnership now extends until 2030, covering numerous events, including the FIFA World Cup 2026 and another scheduled for 2030 in Argentina, Morocco, Paraguay, Portugal, and Uruguay.

As American Airlines and Qatar Airways collaborate, other airlines might aim to partner with FIFA in the upcoming tournaments, particularly with the 2034 World Cup slated to take place in Saudi Arabia.