FIFA announces major multi-tournament partnership with Airbnb

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FIFA and Airbnb Join Forces in Groundbreaking Multi-Tournament Deal
Credit: Airbnb

FIFA has announced a new major partnership with online accommodation marketplace Airbnb, spanning over three tournaments.

As part of the deal, Airbnb becomes a top-tier official partner for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicked off in the U.S. on the 13th of June.

The company will also join FIFA’s official supporter tier for the 2026 Men’s World Cup, taking place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, as well as the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

In its new role, Airbnb will be FIFA’s official platform for booking alternative accommodations and local experiences.

That means fans traveling to host cities will be able to find unique places to stay and book memorable activities during the tournaments.

Some of the first experiences available during the Club World Cup include a private training session with former U.S. men’s national team goalkeeper Tim Howard, the chance to watch a match with his former teammate Cobi Jones, and an exclusive pre-game analysis session led by a senior expert from FIFA’s technical study group.

Airbnb took its first big step into sports sponsorship in 2019 when it partnered with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to become a TOP sponsor of the Olympic Games.

Building on that momentum, the company was recently announced as an official partner of the Tour de France for the next three years, following this summer’s Games in Paris.

Now, Airbnb is expanding its presence in sports through a new partnership with FIFA, echoing its previous deals by focusing on one-of-a-kind experiences and encouraging fans to use the platform to book places to stay during the events.

To support the launch of the FIFA partnership, a new study by Deloitte estimates that over 380,000 Airbnb guests will travel to the 2026 Men’s World Cup, potentially contributing around US$3.6 billion (AUD$5.01 billion) to the economies of host cities.

Airbnb has also pledged US$5 million (AUD$7.66 million) to a Host City Impact Program for the 2026 tournament.

Through this initiative, it will work with local governments to fund projects that boost economic development and enhance the visitor experience.

Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky said the company is proud to partner with FIFA to offer unique fan experiences and help host hundreds of thousands of guests during the 2026 World Cup, while also supporting local economies.

“The World Cup brings the world together – and so do we,” Chesky said in a press release.

“Airbnb is proud to partner with Fifa to offer fans once-in-a-lifetime experiences during the tournaments – while welcoming hundreds of thousands of guests during the 2026 Fifa World Cup and driving meaningful economic impact for local communities.”

Airbnb’s latest move into sports sponsorship comes at a time when the company is seeing a dip in demand in the U.S., which it has attributed to broader economic uncertainty.

With North America making up 45% of Airbnb’s US$11.1 billion (AUD$17 billion) in revenue in 2024, the upcoming major tournaments in its home market present a valuable opportunity to boost engagement and bring more users back to the platform.

Airbnb joins a growing list of sponsors for the FIFA Club World Cup, alongside long-time FIFA partners like Coca-Cola, Visa, and Adidas, as well as Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

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Launceston City Launches Inclusive Facility Upgrade

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Image Credit: Our Game

Launceston City FC has announced that work has commenced on a new refurbishment for the club’s change room endorsed by the Play Our Way program.

Built in 1979 by the club’s volunteers, the facility’s new refurbishment will include a new roof, a multipurpose and education room, a parent room, renovated changerooms, an undercover walkway, and a new entry.

Launceston City FC Director and lead strategic lead for the project, Jesse Woodroffe, spoke to Soccerscene about what the refurbishment will do for inclusivity and equality around the community.

“What it does is shows that we are a club for everyone, and having a standalone designated facility that’s prioritised for women and girls, sends a signal that sport is for everybody and gone are the days where there isn’t equal access,” she said.

“We are seeing a great shift nationwide in equitable access to facilities, grounds and change rooms; certainly, it wasn’t that way a few decades ago.

“Our hope is that we can offer this room and these facilities out to other groups or NGO’s as well.”

Launceston City aims to complete the refurbishment by April next year in order to have the new change rooms available for the upcoming season.

The project is supported under Stream 1 of the Australian Government’s $200 million Play Our Way Program and aims to deliver modern, inclusive changerooms for women and girls in Launceston’s community.

The Play Our Way Program

The Play Our Way Program is designed to remove barriers to participation, reduce discrimination, and promote equality in sport by funding local initiatives and ideas.

An input of experts across the sport sector and key Australian government agencies helped design the program, including an expert advisory panel of women with experience in community and professional sport.

“Play our Way is an opportunity for local governments, community organisations, the not-for-profit sector and sporting organisations to seek funding for localised solutions and improvements,” said Minister for Communications and Sport, Anika Wells, in a press release about the program.

“The program will be available for all sports, but it is anticipated soccer, as the highest participation sport in Australia, will need significant resourcing in the wake of the greatest Women’s World Cup ever.”

Sydney FC Announces New Strategic Partnership With Trip.com for 2025/26 Season

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Credit: Sydney FC Facebook

Sydney FC have confirmed a partnership with Trip.com for the A-League 2025/26 season. 

Trip.com is one of the world’s leading online travel platforms, and the collaboration will give Sydney FC members access to exclusive travel discounts and other special offers. 

Matt Pound, Sydney FC General Manager of Commercial and Marketing, said the partnership directly correlates to the club’s future goals. 

“We’re delighted to team up with Trip.com, a global leader in travel technology and innovation,” said Pound.

“Our members love to travel, whether following the Sky Blues around Australia or exploring new destinations, and we are thrilled to be able to offer them discounts thanks to Trip.com, making their journey simpler, smart and more rewarding.”

Kevin Lu, Territory Manager for Trip.com Oceania also commented on the partnership, 

“We are thrilled to partner with Sydney FC, a club that embodies passion and global ambition, as we bring exclusive travel opportunities to their dedicated fans.

“This collaboration perfectly aligns with Trip.com’s mission to make travel seamless and exciting, and we look forward to helping Sky Blues supporters explore the world with the same energy they bring to every match.”

Trip.com’s local and international advertisements will also be featured across Sydney FC’s digital channels through the season. 

With the partnership spanning the full 2025/26 campaign, the initiative reinforces Sydney FC’s commitment to enhancing the supporter experience both on and off the pitch.

By connecting fans with a trusted global travel provider, Sydney FC aims to add greater value to its membership program while strengthening its ties to the community. 

The collaboration also reflects a growing trend in world football of integrating lifestyle-focused partners into club ecosystems, highlighting the broader vision to serve fans beyond match day. 

With exclusive offers, integrated digital activations and shared ambitions around innovation and growth, both Sydney FC and Trip.com are confident the partnership will deliver meaningful benefits throughout the season ahead.

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