Visa Extends FIFA Partnership for 2026 World Cup, Focusing on Fan Experience
FIFA, the global governing body for football, and Visa, the renowned global payments technology company, have announced the extension of their partnership until 2026, further solidifying their commitment to fostering the growth of football worldwide and providing unparalleled support to players, fans, and clients, as highlighted in Fintech Global News.
This renewed collaboration is set to revolve around an engaging program that encompasses youth initiatives, beach soccer, and various FIFA events, ultimately culminating in what promises to be the largest FIFA World Cup in history in 2026.
Headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, FIFA plays a pivotal role in organizing and promoting football’s major international tournaments, with a primary focus on the FIFA World Cup™. The organization strives relentlessly to promote the global development of football, ensuring that the beautiful game remains accessible to all.
Visa, a global leader in secure and innovative payment solutions, holds the prestigious title of Official Payment Technology Partner for FIFA. The company is deeply committed to enhancing the overall fan experience by offering seamless and secure commerce solutions. Additionally, Visa cardholders can expect exclusive access and promotions during FIFA events.
The partnership between Visa and FIFA has been a fruitful one since its inception in 2007. It has significantly elevated the payment experience at over 40 FIFA events, including the recent FIFA World Cup held in Qatar and the FIFA Women’s World Cup. With this extended partnership, both entities are determined to modernize and streamline the commerce experience for the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup in 2026, making it the most digitally advanced and fan-centric event in history.
Crucially, this partnership ensures that Visa remains the Official Payment Technology Partner for FIFA, providing seamless and secure payment experiences across all FIFA events. Visa cardholders can look forward to exclusive privileges, behind-the-scenes insights, pre-sale events, and innovative promotions both at FIFA physical stores and online at FIFAstore.com.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, expressed his excitement about the future, stating, «FIFA is thrilled to partner with Visa and to focus our strong partnership on what will be a very bright future. Visa’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the fan experience, coupled with their innovative approach to payment technology, aligns with FIFA’s vision to make football truly global and accessible to all. We look forward to delivering exceptional moments for fans across the globe.»
Oliver Jenkyn, Group President, Global Markets at Visa, also shared his enthusiasm for the partnership’s continuation, saying, «Our alliance with FIFA has yielded immense benefits for our brand, clients, and cardholders. We’re excited to continue our long-standing partnership and deliver seamless payment experiences as part of one of the world’s most popular sporting events.»
Romy Gai, FIFA Chief Business Officer, highlighted the significant progress in enhancing the fan experience, saying, «Since 2007, Visa has been instrumental in elevating the payment experience at more than 40 FIFA events, including the recent FIFA World Cup in Qatar and last year’s record-setting FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. While the fan journey has seen tremendous strides in the 16 years of partnership, FIFA and Visa have our sights set on a modernized digital, custom, and frictionless commerce experience for FIFA World Cup 2026.»