FIFA President Gianni Infantino Pays Tribute to Qatar's Father Amir Sheikh Hamad

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has paid an emotional tribute to Qatar's Father Amir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, describing him as a visionary leader, mentor, and close friend whose influence would endure for generations, following the former ruler's death on Sunday at the age of 74.

"Today, a visionary has left us, but his vision will remain forever in the heart, soul, and the country he was born to, lived in, and cherished deeply. Today, the father has left us, but he is not gone," Infantino said in a message posted on social media.

A Personal Bond

The FIFA President spoke of a personal relationship with the late Father Amir, saying he was deeply saddened by the loss of "a special person, a mentor, a visionary, and someone I was very close to." Infantino said Sheikh Hamad's life should be celebrated for its many achievements, noting that during his 18 years as Qatar's ruler he played a pivotal role in the nation's development and helped shape it into the country it is today.

Credited With Qatar's World Cup

Infantino recalled the success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, saying millions had celebrated the tournament in Qatar "thanks to his determination and a vision bigger than all of us." Sheikh Hamad was still Qatar's emir when the country won the right to host the 2022 tournament in 2010, becoming the first Arab and Muslim-majority nation to stage football's biggest event a milestone widely regarded as a defining moment in Qatar's emergence on the global stage.

"Today, we mourn a visionary, but we also celebrate a vision that will stay in the memory and the hearts of everyone," Infantino said, concluding by extending his condolences to Qatar's Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Al Thani family, and the people of Qatar, saying his "heart, thoughts, and prayers" were with them during this difficult time.

Echoed Across the Sporting World

Infantino's tribute was echoed by other leaders of global sport. Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa hailed Sheikh Hamad as "the true architect of modern Qatar," whose love for football and sport transformed the sporting landscape of both Qatar and Asia. He credited the Father Amir as the driving force behind the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, describing his impact on football and his enduring legacy across all sports as something the global sporting community would "cherish forever."

A Legacy Beyond Sport

Sheikh Hamad ruled Qatar from 1995 until his voluntary abdication in 2013, when he handed power to Sheikh Tamim in one of the rare peaceful transitions among hereditary Gulf rulers. Beyond his transformative impact on sport, he is credited with driving Qatar's emergence as a major energy exporter and diplomatic power through the expansion of its liquefied natural gas industry and the 1996 launch of Al Jazeera. Qatar has declared four days of national mourning, with flags at half-mast nationwide and government work suspended until July 19, following funeral prayers held in Doha on Sunday and burial at Lusail Cemetery.