Qatar Airways celebrates the successful end of the pan-Arab showpiece football tournament – the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™.
As Official Airline Partner of the much-anticipated sporting event, the airline congratulates Algeria on their outstanding win in the first-ever FIFA Arab Cup™, and now looks ahead to the thrilling prospect of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “The FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ has set the precedent for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ next year and has assured our readiness to host the prestigious football tournament. As the national carrier of the State of Qatar, we look forward to welcoming fans from across the world on board our flights, where they can experience a truly unique and hospitable service.”
During the final, the stadium’s LED screens frequently displayed Qatar Airways’ forward-looking key message ‘See You in Qatar 2022’, encouraging fans to book their FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ travel packages at qatarairways.com/fifa2022, demonstrating the national carrier’s readiness for the mega-event. In September 2021, Qatar Airways Holidays launched its fan travel packages, inclusive of match tickets, return flights and accommodation options, ensuring that football fans can guarantee their match tickets to support their favourite team in person during the FIFA World Cup™.
In a further celebration of its belief in the importance of sports as a means of bringing people together, Qatar Airways has also created a new photographic and written series from football fans from across the Arab region, who uniquely narrated their stories and experiences during the FIFA Arab Cup™. The participating storytellers included football fans from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Oman, Palestine, and Qatar. Each participant tells their story through a mixture of analogue and digital photography, showcasing what football means to them and their communities, while supporting their national team. All stories can be found on the airline’s social media channels.
During the final, Qatar Airways collaborated with a creative Qatari illustrator to celebrate key moments of the match by drawing onto a football at Barahat Msheireb, the region’s largest and most iconic covered public square. Filmed in time lapse, the story of the match can be seen unfolding gradually, while adding a touch of tradition and culture, written using the elegance of Arabic calligraphy.
Football fans who attended the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021™ were invited to play virtual football and enjoy a host of other action-packed games at Qatar Airways’ pavilion located at the Al Bayt Stadium’s Brand Activation Area. The airline welcomed spectators to step into the spotlight and create memories inside its FIFA Arab Cup™ inspired photo-booth, by capturing a selfie to share with friends. Qatar Airways Official Frequent Flyer programme also offered visitors the opportunity to earn 1,500 bonus Qmiles upon joining its Privilege Club at the event.
The exciting tournament offered football fans a glimpse into the spirit of Qatar, as well as the world-class stadiums set to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. The state-of-the-art Al Bayt Stadium located in the northern city of Al Khor hosted the tournament’s inaugural and final matches. Built in the shape of a traditional Bedouin tent, the Stadium pays tribute to Qatari and Arab culture and symbolises Middle Eastern hospitality. Other stadiums that were played at include Al Thumama Stadium, Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Stadium 974, Education City Stadium and Al Janoub Stadium.
Most recently, the airline sponsored the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the UEFA Euro 2020™, and has an extensive global sports partnership portfolio that includes football-governing bodies such as FIFA, CONCACAF and CONMEBOL. As FIFA’s Official Partner, Qatar Airways has sponsored mega-events including the 2019 and 2020 editions of the FIFA Club World Cup™, and will sponsor the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Qatar Airways also sponsors some of the world’s biggest football clubs including Al Sadd SC, Boca Juniors, FC Bayern München, K.A.S. Eupen, and Paris Saint-Germain.
The national carrier of the State of Qatar continues to rebuild its network, which currently stands at over 140 destinations. With more frequencies being added to key hubs, Qatar Airways offers unrivalled connectivity to passengers, making it easy for them to connect to a destination of their choice.
