Qatar Airways named official sponsor of Spain vs Uruguay football match

Reigning European and world champions Spain will face the current South American champions Uruguay in an international friendly match at Khalifa Stadium in the Qatari capital.

The two teams featuring a line-up of some of the world's best players will battle it out in a packed stadium, for a football match that promises to be a soccer spectacle.

Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said that the airline was thrilled to bring these world class players to Doha for what is one of the most anticipated soccer matches in the city this year.

"Qatar Airways has a strong affiliation with football with the carrier being the Official Airline of the country's national football team", he said.

"Our sponsorship of the Spain vs. Uruguay match reinforces the airline's passion for this exciting sport and there is much more planned linking Qatar with the football world as Qatar gears up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup."

For many years, Qatar Airways has been supporting popular sports events in Qatar and overseas such as the international tennis tournaments for men and women bringing some of the world's best players to Doha and world-renowned cycling events - the Tour de France and Tour of Qatar. The airline also sponsored the Qatar Olympic team representing the home nation at the London Games last summer.

One of the world's fastest growing airlines, Qatar Airways has seen rapid growth in just 15 years of operations, currently flying a modern fleet of 119 aircraft to 124 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and The Americas with the aggressive expansion continuing into 2013.

Over the next few weeks and months, Qatar Airways will launch services to a diverse portfolio of new routes, including Phnom Penh, Cambodia (February 20); Chengdu, China (March 19); Chicago, USA (April 10); and Salalah, Oman (May 22).