Doha: Director of Qatar Football Association (QFA) Marketing and Communications Khaled Mubarak Al Kuwari emphasized that the Qatari national team's qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is a tremendous achievement, adding to the record of successes achieved by Qatari football.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Kuwari noted that the attendance at the team's matches in recent participations has been exceptional. During a media session held at the QFA building, he announced that the QFA has begun developing a comprehensive vision for a marketing and media plan in preparation for Team Qatar's participation in the upcoming World Cup. New ideas and initiatives will soon be announced in cooperation with the QFA's partners and sponsors.
He highlighted the existence of previous experiences in promotional campaigns and support for the national team in international tournaments such as the Gold Cup and the Copa America. These experiences will be leveraged, along with launching other initiatives. Al Kuwari indicated that qualifying for the upcoming World Cup reflects the organized work undertaken by the QFA in cooperation with clubs and sports institutions, attributing the continuation of these successes to long-term strategic planning that began years ago.
Al Kuwari expressed pride in the achievements of Qatari fans, especially their support in the stands of Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. He noted that fan attendance during the AFC Asian Qualifiers 2026 surpassed 100,000 spectators, with an average of over 16,000 per match, reflecting a strong sense of belonging.
The QFA has always prioritized fan engagement, launching initiatives like the QFA Back to School campaign, which have been successful in national team matches and the Amir Cup. Al Kuwari praised local sports clubs for their coordination and support for the national team, which was bolstered by fan social media accounts and influencers.
The Al Annabi Stand initiative has seen efforts to rally fans at venues like Souq Waqif and stadiums, distributing tickets to national team supporters. Al Kuwari urged local clubs to collaborate with fan councils to enhance the fan scene in local competitions and positively impact national team support in major tournaments.
He also highlighted the readiness for the upcoming FIFA U-17 World Cup Qatar 2025 and FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2025, with new marketing campaigns featuring innovative ideas reflecting the identity of Al Annabi and the spirit of Qatari youth. Al Kuwari affirmed that Al Annabi is experiencing a phase of prosperity due to strong collaboration among QFA, clubs, fans, and media, and expressed gratitude to all partners, sponsors, security personnel, and organizers who contributed to the success of the qualifiers.