Leticia Bila
Boston, USA: Eng. Thani Al Zaraa, Executive Director of Sustainability and Legacy at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), is contributing to preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 as part of the SC's knowledge and expertise transfer programme.
Currently serving as Venue Operations Manager at Boston Stadium, Al Zaraa is responsible for overseeing the spectator journey, ensuring fans enjoy a safe, efficient and seamless experience from arrival through to departure.
Reflecting on his role, Al Zaraa highlighted the strength of Qatar's event management expertise.
"An event of this scale rests on operational work our teams know well. I am proud of the capability we have built, and of the role we continue to play in delivering major events at home and around the world," said Al Zaraa.
He added that Qatar's experience in hosting world-class sporting events continues to benefit the global events industry.
"Qatar has accumulated a depth of expertise by hosting many events over the years. Passing that legacy on is central to how we want to contribute to the industry for the long term, supporting major events worldwide while continuing to develop our own capabilities along the way."
Al Zaraa is among a group of experts from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy supporting the FIFA World Cup 2026 under a knowledge exchange agreement between the SC and FIFA. Drawing on the experience gained from delivering numerous major tournaments in Qatar—including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022—these Qatari experts are working alongside host city teams across the United States and Canada, sharing knowledge and operational best practices across a wide range of functional areas.
According to Al Zaraa, participating in major international tournaments also enables Qatar's experts to remain at the forefront of the industry.
"Major events are constantly evolving, and remaining close to how they are delivered around the world is essential to how we operate. Our involvement here allows our teams to stay across the latest industry trends, ensuring we continue to deliver elevated experiences."
The Supreme Committee's contribution to the FIFA World Cup 2026 reflects Qatar's enduring legacy in delivering major sporting events and its commitment to sharing expertise with future host nations. Through the knowledge exchange programme, Qatari experts continue to support the successful delivery of international tournaments while strengthening global collaboration and advancing excellence in event operations.
#WeAre26 #FIFAWorldCup