Barcelona and Al Ahli Saudi FC will face off in a friendly match, hosted by Qatar Airways, in Doha on December 13, 2016.
The two football giants, both sponsored by the national carrier of the State of Qatar, will play the match at Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al Gharafa Stadium).
Yesterday’s announcement came after the same fixture was postponed from a May 2016 date.
The announcement is certain to draw legions of fans from both clubs, especially from nearby Saudi Arabia-based Al-Ahli club, who are eager to witness this unique match of champions as east and west come together in a celebration of football.
Qatar Airways Group chief executive Akbar al-Baker said: “We are proud to bring together two champions of football to play in Doha, to showcase not only their athletic excellence but also Doha’s extraordinary sports infrastructure. Qatar Airways recognises the unifying power of sport, bringing people from around the world together in common purpose. Through our continued sponsorship of FC Barcelona and Al-Ahli Saudi FC we are proud to be a part of their great success stories.
“Our relationship with FC Barcelona began in 2013, and since then we have doubled the frequency of our flights to Barcelona and Madrid. During our Al-Ahli sponsorship, we have increased our services to Jeddah and Madinah. Fans of both teams can travel to Doha for the match in December, or travel directly to the clubs’ home ground for matches, with more flight options making their journeys easier.”
This year, Al-Ahli won the Saudi Professional League – the first time in 32 years. The club won the Saudi Super Cup and the King Cup, and finished runners-up in the Crown Prince Cup.
Meanwhile, Barcelona won their 23rd La Liga title this year, the Copa del Rey and they are the reigning champions of the FIFA Club World Cup. The club won the treble in the 2014-15 season – La Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League titles.
In October 2014, Qatar Airways announced a sponsorship agreement for three seasons with Al-Ahli. Earlier this year, Qatar Airways extended its FC Barcelona sponsorship for another season, with the deal running until July 2017.    
Ticket sales details will be announced via social media.