USA World Cup Bid Committee Adds American Airlines As Partner

By Tripp Mickle, Staff Writer, SportsBusiness Journal

The USA Bid Committee to host the FIFA World Cup in '18 or '22 today announced American Airlines as an official partner. The airline joins AT&T and Fox Soccer Channel to become the third partner of the bid. Terms of the deal were not available. American Airlines will be able to use the bid committee's logo, marks and slogans in press releases, advertising and marketing materials. The bid committee will post the American Airlines logo on its website. The deal adds another soccer partnership to American Airlines' portfolio, which already includes a relationship with MLS. The U.S. is competing to host the World Cup in either year against bids from England, Russia, Netherlands/Belgium and Portugal/Spain. It is competing to host the event in '22 against Australia, Japan, Qatar and South Korea.