Qatar once again showcased its exceptional organisational capabilities by hosting the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024, a tournament that further solidifies its position as a global sports hub for major competitions. It was the first edition of the FIFA-backed Intercontinental Cup, with Qatar hosting the final three matches of the competition featuring continental champions. In the opening encounters, Mexican club Pachuca triumphed in both the FIFA Derby of Americas Qatar 2024 and the FIFA Challenger Cup Qatar 2024, defeating Brazil’s Botafogo and Egypt’s Al Ahly at Stadium 974.
The tournament reached its climax with the final at the iconic Lusail Stadium, where European champions Real Madrid defeated Pachuca 3-0 to claim the prestigious trophy. Over 67,000 fans attended the thrilling final, which featured stars like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior. The match coincided with Qatar National Day celebrations, adding a vibrant atmosphere to the occasion. Cultural activities in the stadium fan zone marked the anniversary of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, held exactly two years earlier at the same venue. In total, over 118,000 fans attended the three matches at the two venues.
As with the 2022 World Cup, the tournament provided innovative accessibility options, ensuring a barrier-free experience for fans with disabilities. Audio descriptive commentary (ADC) was available at all three matches, allowing blind and partially sighted fans to access detailed descriptions of the events through a dedicated app. A day prior to the final, Doha also hosted The Best FIFA Football Awards 2024, the first time the ceremony was held in the Middle East. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. was named Best Player.
H E Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and Chairman of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup Qatar 2024 Local Organizing Committee, expressed his satisfaction with the event’s success, saying, “Once again, Qatar has successfully hosted a global sporting event using world-class sporting infrastructure, while providing fans with a rich and unique cultural and sporting experience. The FIFA Intercontinental Cup further cements the country’s place as a global sporting capital.”
Since hosting the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world in 2022, Qatar has organised numerous major sporting events. These include the record-breaking AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which saw impressive fan attendance and digital engagement. Recently, FIFA announced the dates for the first of five consecutive FIFA U-17 World Cups to be hosted annually in Qatar, beginning November 5-22, 2025. Additionally, Qatar will host the FIFA Arab Cup in 2025, 2029, and 2033. Looking ahead, the next major event will be the 2024 Trophee des Champions, set for January 5, 2025, at Doha’s 40,000-capacity Stadium 974. The French Super Cup will see Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) face Coupe de France winners Monaco.
