As Spain prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup, it is turning to Qatar’s experience in securing major international sporting events. The two countries have signed a Letter of Intent to strengthen security cooperation ahead of the tournament.
Qatar and Spain Strengthen Security Cooperation
The agreement was signed in Madrid following a meeting between Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force “Lekhwiya”, and Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez, Spain’s Minister of the Interior.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed existing cooperation between Qatar and Spain and ways to further develop their bilateral relationship, particularly in the security sector. They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest.
The newly signed Letter of Intent focuses on cooperation between the two countries’ interior ministries regarding security arrangements for the FIFA World Cup 2030. According to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, the cooperation will include sharing expertise and best practices in areas such as crowd management, spectator safety, emergency response, sports facility security, drones and technology used to monitor crowd movement, as well as cybersecurity.
Building on Qatar’s World Cup Experience
The partnership comes as Spain prepares to host matches as part of the 2030 tournament, alongside Portugal and Morocco, and reflects Qatar’s growing role in sharing its experience from hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Qatar’s security preparations for the 2022 tournament involved large-scale planning for stadiums, crowds, transportation and international visitors, giving its security authorities experience that can now be shared with Spain as it prepares for another major global football event.
The cooperation is also expected to go beyond the World Cup itself, with both sides discussing opportunities to expand their wider security collaboration.
The agreement marks another step in the growing security relationship between Qatar and Spain, while allowing Spanish authorities to draw on Qatar’s experience as preparations for the 2030 FIFA World Cup continue.
We Said This: Don’t Miss… It May Be Four Years Away, but Here’s What We Know About the 2030 FIFA World Cup