Emirates backs WAFF Championship

Dubai-based airline Emirates has been unveiled as the official partner and airline of this year’s West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) Championship.

The competition will take place in Erbil and Karbala, Iraq from August 2-14. It will mark the first time that Iraq has staged the event.

Emirates will benefit from brand visibility at each match venue through in-stadium advertising space. The airline will also be promoted across print and TV platforms, while it will receive digital and social media activation rights on WAFF platforms.

This year’s tournament will be contested by host nation Iraq, as well as Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria and Yemen.

Emirates’ football sponsorship portfolio also includes deals with the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid, Benfica, Arsenal and Olympiacos. The company is also the official airline and partner of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), through which it sponsors the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup and AFC Challenge Cup, as well as women’s and youth events.