FIFA and PIF Announce Landmark Partnership for 2026 World Cup

FIFA and the Public Investment Fund (PIF) have announced a partnership with PIF as their Official Tournament Supporter in North America and Asia for the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

This agreement marks an expansion of Saudi Arabia’s global sporting footprint, aligning the world’s most watched sporting event with PIF’s recently approved 2026–2030 strategy.

The partnership aims to facilitate knowledge transfer and capacity-building for Saudi youth, effectively bridging the gap between grassroots development and elite global competition.

Global Engagement Through Savvy and Qiddiya

The partnership will be activated through two of PIF’s key portfolio companies: Savvy Games Group, the Kingdom’s champion for games and esports, and Qiddiya City, the future global hub for entertainment and sport.

These entities are tasked with driving innovative fan engagement initiatives and delivering unique experiences for the football community throughout the tournament.

FIFA chief business officer, Romy Gai Noted that the collaboration will foster innovation and engage youth on an unprecedented scale.

“Together, we look forward to delivering a historic tournament that inspires and unites fans from around the world.” 

“The partnership with PIF will help grow our sport across the globe through unlocking new opportunities, fostering innovation and engaging youth, ensuring that millions of young people have the chance to play football and enjoy its many benefits,” said Gai.

For PIF, this partnership prioritises sport within the broader tourism, leisure, and entertainment ecosystem.

Head of corporate brand at PIF, Mohamed AlSayyad, emphasised that football is at the heart of the fund’s growth, building on previous ties with the FIFA Club World Cup and Concacaf.

“PIF continues to expand its global footprint in sport, with football at the heart of this growth.

“This partnership builds on our existing FIFA relationship from last year’s FIFA Club World Cup – and our work with Concacaf – to deliver a positive and lasting impact.

“PIF continues to accelerate the growth of football globally by expanding access to the game and creating opportunities that benefit players, fans and the wider football ecosystem,” AlSayyad said.

A Historic Tournament Milestone

The 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup is set to be the largest in the tournament’s history.

Key details include:

• Expanded Format: The tournament will feature 48 teams for the first time, an increase from the traditional 32.
• Tri-National Hosting: Matches will be staged across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
• Duration: The tournament is scheduled to run from 11 June to 19 July 2026, culminating in a final at New York New Jersey Stadium.
• Match Volume: A record 104 matches will be played, significantly increasing the inventory for commercial and fan engagement.

The announcement arrives as Saudi Arabia continues its ascent in the football world, notably as the sole bidder for the FIFA World Cup 2034™. 

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