Officials from Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) and other key stakeholders have traveled to North America to help prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026. The move follows a knowledge-sharing Memorandum of Understanding signed between SC Managing Director HE Hassan Al Thawadi and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
The agreement puts a dedicated group of Qatari specialists into host venues across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The team includes experts who previously played roles in delivering the FIFA World Cup 2022, the FIFA Arab Cup, and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
Quick facts
- SC officials and Qatari stakeholders have deployed to North America to support FIFA World Cup 2026 delivery.
- The knowledge-sharing MoU was signed by SC Managing Director HE Hassan Al Thawadi and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
- A Qatari expert team is working across U.S., Canada, and Mexico host cities.
- Focus areas include tournament operations, workforce readiness, fan engagement, and technological innovation.
- A second SC contingent is taking part in an observation programme aimed at identifying best practices for cross-border mega-events.
- Qatar will host the FIFA U-17 World Cup from 19 November to 13 December 2026.
Those specialists are expected to embed within key functional departments, spanning day-to-day tournament operations, preparation of the workforce, approaches to building fan experience, and efforts tied to technological innovation. The aim is to transfer practical know-how from Qatar’s recent major-event experience to the 2026 campaign.
In parallel, a separate group of SC personnel will join a structured observation programme. Its purpose is to document best practices for running complex mega-events that operate across borders, with the lessons intended to strengthen planning and execution on the ground.
Infantino praised Qatar’s track record in global tournament delivery, pointing to the country’s infrastructure, hospitality, and operational expertise. He also highlighted the successful staging of the 2022 World Cup and Qatar’s subsequent experience hosting major expanded competition formats, saying the knowledge gained “is invaluable” for the 2026 edition.
He added that it is “thrilling” to see Qatari know-how directly supporting what he described as the most inclusive FIFA World Cup in history. The comments underline the expectation that Qatar’s operational depth will translate into smoother delivery for the North American tournament.
Qatar’s involvement comes after years of building a reputation as a global sporting hub. Since staging the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East in 2022, the country has also hosted the AFC Asian Cup 2023 and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup, while helping pioneer the move to expanded 48-team formats for both the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the FIFA Arab Cup.
With the World Cup 2026 preparations underway in North America, Qatar will also remain in the spotlight at home. The nation will welcome the global football community again when it hosts the next FIFA U-17 World Cup from 19 November to 13 December 2026.
