Qatar Airways lands historic 'treble' ahead of Champions League final

Airline sponsors finalists and competition as PSG and Inter prepare for Munich showdown

Last updated: May 30, 2025 | 16:22

2 MIN READ

Inter Milan's French forward #09 Marcus Thuram (L) and Inter Milan's Iranian forward #99 Mehdi Taremi at San Siro stadium in Milan,

AFP

Dubai: Qatar Airways has made history by becoming an official sponsor of both UEFA Champions League finalists — Paris Saint-Germain and FC Internazionale Milano — as well as the competition itself. This rare “sponsorship treble” highlights the airline’s global vision and passion for football.

Qatar Airways has been a top-tier Fifa partner since 2017 and remains Fifa’s Global Airline Partner, supporting major events like Fifa World Cups of 2026, 2027, and 2030, plus youth tournaments.

Varied portfolio

In 2018, it became the Official Global Airline Partner of the Brooklyn Nets and Barclays Center, boosting its presence in the US.

Qatar Airways is also the Global Partner and Official Airline of Formula 1®, with highlights including the Qatar Airways Grand Prix 2024 and the MotoGP Grand Prix of Qatar. The airline’s sports portfolio extends to Royal Challengers Bengaluru cricket, Racing and Equestrian Club, squash, tennis, Australian Rules football, and rugby.

A final of contrasts

Favourites PSG aim to win their first Champions League trophy, but face a tough Inter Milan side in Saturday’s final in Munich.

This match pits a youthful, high-spending French superclub against the experienced Italian side. Since the Qatari takeover in 2011, PSG have reached just two finals, losing to Bayern Munich in 2020 behind closed doors.

Following Kylian Mbappé’s departure, Luis Enrique’s young Paris squad — with an average age under 24 — have impressed, overcoming strong Premier League opposition including Manchester City, Liverpool, Aston Villa, and Arsenal.

Ousmane Dembélé has scored 33 goals this season, supported by rising stars like Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, while veterans like Achraf Hakimi and Gianluigi Donnarumma provide stability.

“We know the football we want to play and just need to deliver it fully,” said Enrique, aiming to make PSG only the second French club to win the trophy, after Marseille in 1993.

Italian grit

Inter seek a fourth European Cup, having last won in 2010 under José Mourinho. Coach Simone Inzaghi, who led them to the 2023 final, relies on a core of experienced players, some aged 36 or older.

Inter defeated Bayern and Barcelona on their way to the final and will use their solid 3-5-2 formation to counter PSG’s attacking 4-3-3.

“We know it will be difficult against a super team, but we will give our best,” Inzaghi said.

A.K.S. SatishSports Editor

From playing on the pitch to analysing it from the press box, Satish has spent over three decades living and breathing sport. A cricketer-turned-journalist, he has covered three Cricket World Cups, the 2025 Champions Trophy, countless IPL seasons, F1 races, horse racing classics, and tennis in Dubai. Cricket is his home ground, but he sees himself as an all-rounder - breaking stories, building pages, going live on podcasts, and interviewing legends across every corner of the sporting world. Satish started on the back pages, and earned his way to the front, now leading the sports team at Gulf News, where he has spent 25 years navigating the fast-evolving game of journalism. Whether it’s a Super-Over thriller or a behind-the-scenes story, he aims to bring insight, energy, and a fan’s heart to every piece. Because like sport, journalism is about showing up, learning every day, and giving it everything.