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- American debuts first sports-themed aircraft livery
- Announcement of last opportunity to redeem miles for match tickets
- Celebrations with customers at airports and popular locations throughout
the U.S., Canada and Mexico
FORT WORTH, Texas — American Airlines is taking the excitement of the pitch
to the skies. For the first time, the airline is debuting a special
sports-themed aircraft livery — a bold nod to its role as the Official North
American Airline Supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™ in partnership
with Qatar Airways.
This livery is more than a design — it’s a symbol of how American connects
people not just to destinations, but to the passions, teams and moments they
care about most. The specially designed Boeing 737-800 entered service on Feb.
15 and will be visible throughout the tournament this summer — bringing fans to
the action and turning heads along the way.
And the love for football doesn’t stop there. More than 1,460 aircraft —
representing the majority of American’s fleet — proudly display a custom FIFA
World Cup 26™ decal, honoring the airline’s commitment to connecting
fans and teams to the world’s most celebrated sporting event.
“We’re honored to serve as the Official North American Airline Supplier of
the FIFA World Cup 26™ and to be part of a moment that brings
people, cultures and communities together,” said Caroline Clayton, American’s
Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications. “Our
sponsorships help us create deeper connections with our customers, and this
new sports-themed livery is just one of the ways we’re bringing the
excitement of the tournament to their travel experience.”
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On April 2, American kicked off its countdown to the world’s biggest
sporting event with an aircraft livery celebration at its hub in Miami
— the city’s hometown airline and the country’s largest gateway to the
Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America.
The airline transformed its Miami hangar into the ultimate football
experience with the debut of its FIFA World Cup 26™-themed aircraft
livery alongside food and beverages inspired by Miami’s rich culture and
appearances by the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Official Mascots. Guests
were welcomed with remarks from football icons Thierry Henry and Tim Howard,
along with American executives including Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper,
Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications Caroline
Clayton, and Vice President of Miami Operations Juan Carlos Liscano. The
program also featured remarks from FIFA Chief Business and Strategy Officer Amy
Hopfinger and Miami‑Dade County leaders Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and
Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins. The remarks helped set the stage for an
immersive evening that brought the spirit of the tournament to life.
“The excitement across North America is palpable and those of us who have
been immersed in football for our entire lives are especially looking forward
to how the tournament will grow both participation in and following of the
world’s beautiful game,” said Tim Howard, former USMNT Goal keeper and sports
broadcaster. “Brands like American are key to fueling that growth by
enhancing the matchday experience and citywide celebrations for fans of all
ages.”
This celebration is the first of many to come as American showcases the
world’s beautiful game. Whether an avid or casual fan, American is bringing the
spirit of the FIFA World Cup 26™ across 16 host cities through
airport activations and surprise and delight moments — because the best plays
aren’t always the ones on the pitch.
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Final chance to redeem miles for match tickets
American is bringing AAdvantage® members one last opportunity to
score FIFA World Cup 26™ match tickets. AAdvantage®
members will have access to redeem AAdvantage® miles for tickets to
all 104 matches, with earlier access based on their status level (subject to
availability).
Here’s the game plan
- April 9 at 10 a.m. CT — AAdvantage Executive Platinum® status
and ConciergeKey® members
- April 9 at 2 p.m. CT — AAdvantage Gold®, AAdvantage
Platinum® and AAdvantage Platinum Pro® status
members
- April 10 at 10 a.m. CT — All AAdvantage® members
“The AAdvantage® program is built to reward members with
exclusive experiences they can only get through American,” said Scott Long,
American’s Senior Vice President of AAdvantage®. “This final
window to redeem miles for FIFA World Cup 26™ match tickets is a
unique benefit that reflects our commitment to offer unmatched value to our
most loyal customers.”
To stay ahead of the game, members are encouraged to download the American
app and enable push notifications for ticket-access alerts starting April 9,
based on member status level. This is the last chance for members to use their
miles for match tickets, so act fast when the access window opens. Visit the
website to learn more.
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Tim Howard celebrates American Airlines as the Official North American Airline Supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™, in partnership with Qatar Airways, Global Airline of FIFA.
Photo: Michael Simon/American Airlines
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American Airlines Vice President of Miami Operations Juan Carlos Liscano, FIFA Chief Business and Strategy Officer Amy Hopfinger, Miami‑Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Tim Howard, American Airlines Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Communications Caroline Clayton, Thierry Henry, American Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper.
Photo: Michael Simon/American Airlines
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Thierry Henry celebrates American Airlines as the Official North American Airline Supplier of the FIFA World Cup 26™, in partnership with Qatar Airways, Global Airline of FIFA.
Photo: Michael Simon/American Airlines
Powered by a winning network and premium customer
experience
American is helping fans reach the world’s most popular game through its
expanded network, offering more service between host cities than any other
carrier.
In December, the airline announced increased capacity with larger aircraft
across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, making it easier for fans
to follow their teams throughout the tournament. Whether traveling to attend
matches or taking part in fan festivals and experiences, American remains
committed to elevating the customer experience, making every step of the
journey as memorable as the matches themselves. Flights are available to
purchase now at aa.com/en-us/fwc26 or through American’s mobile app.
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American Airlines announces final opportunity for AAdvantage® members to redeem miles for FIFA World Cup 26™ match tickets
Score exclusive experiences through the AAdvantage Perks℠
program
American goes the extra mile in rewarding sports enthusiasts with exciting
opportunities to experience their favorite teams. To reward their love of
travel and sports, American is giving members of its AAdvantage®
program daily opportunities to enter sweepstakes through May 1, for a chance to
win exciting prizes that get fans closer to the action.
From now through May 1, football fans can enter daily at fwc26perks.com for a chance to go on a Flyaway for the
Opening FIFA World Cup match in Mexico City or watch a U.S. Men’s
National Team at the FIFA World Cup in Los Angeles.
About American Airlines Group (NASDAQ: AAL)
American Airlines is a premium global airline connecting more of the U.S. to
the world. With roots tracing back to an air mail carrier in the Midwestern
United States in 1926, American now operates more than 6,000 daily flights to
more than 350 destinations in more than 60 countries and serves more than 200
million customers annually. Powered by a proud and talented team of 130,000
aviation professionals, American’s team lives out the airline’s purpose of
caring for people on life’s journey every day.
The world’s largest airline proudly celebrates its centennial year in 2026,
reaching a milestone that reflects a century of innovation and the Forever
ForwardSM spirit that changed the industry and the world. American
introduced the first scheduled air cargo service, the first airport lounge and
the first airline loyalty program and continues to reinvent the customer
experience today. The airline is also a founding member of the
oneworld alliance, whose members serve more than 900
destinations around the globe.
Get the latest about American at news.aa.com and @AmericanAir.