December 23 – FIFA has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Stars League (QSL) and Qatar Football Association (QFA) that will focus on helping the Qataris raise standards of professional club management and administration across the Qatar Stars League’s first- and second-division clubs.
The MoU was signed on Qatar’s national day on the fringes of the Arab Cup final in Doha, Qatar, last week by FIFA president Gianni Infantino (pictured left) and Jassim binRashid AlBuainain (pictured right), president of the QSL and QFA. The new MoU follows on from an original agreement signed in 2022 between FIFA and the Qatar FA.
Following Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup, the Gulf state has hosted both the AFC Asian Cup in 2024 and both the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and the Arab Cup this month, as well as multiple other tournaments including FIFA’s expanded U17 World Cup.
The hosting expertise the Qataris have built has seen them both provide a ready-made solution for major events and a significant post-2022 legacy.
The new MoU with FIFA is focussed on support and education within the national professional game.
“I was delighted to sign a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with the Qatar Stars League and the Qatar Football Association, further strengthening a strategic partnership that continues to raise professional standards in club football. My sincere thanks to His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid AlBuainain and his teams for their outstanding support, organisation and hosting of major FIFA events this year, including the FIFA Arab Cup, the FIFA Intercontinental Cup and, most recently, the FIFA Under-17 World Cup,” said Infantino.
“Through education programmes, knowledge exchange and enhanced support for player well-being, we are working together to help talented individuals and ambitious clubs thrive in a more competitive and sustainable global football ecosystem.”
The collaboration will focus on the Educational Programmes Project with FIFA providing bespoke support with exchange and educational programmes for club managers and agents, as well as mental health and overall well-being support systems for players.
President of the QSL and QFA, His Excellency Jassim bin Rashid Al AlBuainain, said: “The agreement between FIFA and the Qatar Stars League, as it represents an important step that reflects the strength of cooperation between both sides. This partnership covers several areas, including the strategic development of football across its technical and administrative aspects, as well as leveraging the region’s passion for the game to promote peace and highlight the noble values of football worldwide,” said Jassim bin Rashid Al AlBuainain.
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