A renewed FIFA agreement with Qatar’s football authorities aims to raise professional standards across domestic clubs through education and governance reform.
Lusail | By Sayer Zaland
FIFA has renewed its strategic partnership with the Qatar Stars League (QSL) and the Qatar Football Association (QFA) through the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on developing professional club management and administration in Qatar.
The agreement was signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and QSL and QFA President His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain during a ceremony held at Lusail Stadium, ahead of the FIFA Arab Cup 2025™ final.
The renewed partnership targets first- and second-division clubs, with an emphasis on improving governance structures, administrative capacity and long-term sustainability within domestic football.
Infantino said the agreement reflects FIFA’s broader objective of expanding competitive opportunities globally.
“This renewed MoU strengthens a partnership that continues to raise professional standards in club football,” he said, thanking Qatar’s football leadership for its role in hosting multiple FIFA tournaments in 2025.
Al Buainain described the extension as a reflection of strong cooperation between FIFA and Qatari football institutions, noting that the partnership supports both technical and administrative development while promoting football’s social values at regional and global levels.
The renewed MoU extends an agreement first signed in 2022 and will now focus on an Educational Programmes Project, through which FIFA will provide tailored support for club managers and agents, along with player-focused initiatives addressing mental health and overall well-being.
The signing took place on Qatar National Day, marking three years since the FIFA World Cup 2022™ final at the same venue. Qatar continues to play a central role in global football, having hosted the AFC Asian Cup, the FIFA World Cup, and recent FIFA club and youth competitions, while remaining a long-term host of the expanded FIFA U-17 World Cup™.