Photo: Shutterstock American Airlines has secured an aviation partnership with the FIFA World Cup 2026 – which will take place across Canada, Mexico, and the USA – in collaboration with Qatar Airways, which is FIFA's global airline partner until 2030.
FIFA expressed satisfaction with American Airlines joining as the official airline provider for North America for the World Cup 2026 in Canada, Mexico, and the USA, strengthening the tournament's ties with North America and ensuring world-class flight experiences for fans and teams across the USA during the tournament.
As part of the agreement, American Airlines will promote travel offers to soccer matches in the tournament, which will feature 48 national teams for the first time, 3 host countries, and 16 host cities. The 2026 World Cup will host 104 matches and is expected to be the most-watched sporting event in history.
"We are proud to partner with FIFA and look forward to connecting fans to every World Cup match," said Caroline Clayton, Senior Vice President of Communications at American Airlines. "As the hometown team for this historic event, we are eager to fly fans across North America to experience the passion, energy, and diversity of the beautiful game".
With more than 2,200 daily flights to the World Cup host cities, American offers its AAdvantage® loyal members the opportunity to obtain tickets to the matches through ongoing raffles. Fans in the USA, aged 18 and over, can register once a day at aa.com/fwc26perks for a chance to win tickets to the final match. For those who are not members of AAdvantage®, joining is easy and free at www.aa.com/aadvantage.
For American, this is a significant collaboration with Qatar Airways, FIFA's global airline partner, which will maintain exclusive international flight rights as part of the recently renewed global partnership with FIFA until 2030.
The collaboration and alignment between the two companies will ensure international and local connectivity for all stakeholders throughout the competition. Tickets will be available for redemption for members of AAdvantage® and Qatar Airways Privilege Club Avios later this year.
"The addition of American Airlines as an official provider further enhances our ability to deliver an outstanding World Cup in 2026," said FIFA's Chief Business Officer, Romy Guy. "Their unmatched local network and deep connection to the American public make them highly suitable for the tournament, which will captivate millions across North America".
Qatar Airways' Chief Commercial Officer, Thierry Antinori, stated: "As FIFA's global airline, we are proud to play a central role in bringing fans from around the world to this eagerly awaited tournament. With American Airlines joining as the official airline network in North America, we can offer millions of travelers a seamless journey to the FIFA World Cup".