The Qatar Legacy Ambassador programme seeks to work with some of the game’s most high-profile names to highlight the SC’s numerous local and global legacy projects, and help use the opportunities provided by Qatar 2022 to create positive social change across the region and around the world.

Tim Cahill

In February 2020, Australian football legend Tim Cahill was announced as the fourth Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador. With 50 goals over 108 international appearances, Cahill is Australia’s all-time leading scorer. He participated in four FIFA World Cup™ tournaments for Australia.

In his role as a Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador, Cahill works closely with Generation Amazing, which uses innovative football for development coaching sessions to help underprivileged communities.

Tim lives in Qatar full time to fulfil his role of Chief Sports Officer at Aspire Academy.

'Using football to make kids smile is a strong motivation, of course; but changing people’s lives through reading, mentorship, skill-building and sharing life lessons – that’s definitely where my passion shines through.'

Cafu

During the Qatar national team’s participation in the 2019 Copa América, Brazil’s former captain and two-time FIFA World Cup™ winner Cafu was announced as the third Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador. Cafu is a football legend having lifted more than 20 trophies in a career spanning 18 years.

Education through sport is a subject close to Cafu’s heart. He has already made a mark in his home country of Brazil – particularly the Jardim Irene area of São Paulo where he grew up. He has long played an active role in providing education and vocational training in the community. His commitment to giving the next generation the opportunities to succeed, on and off the pitch, makes him an ideal role model and ambassador.

'Football is one of the biggest tools for social inclusion in the world. The football pitch brings people from different cultures together. It connects people that speak different languages; they meet on the pitch, greet each other and laugh together. I believe the legacy Qatar's World Cup will leave is not only for its own nation but also for people across the globe.'

Samuel Eto'o

In April 2019, Eto’o – a former Barcelona and Cameroon international and four-time African Player of the Year – was announced as the second Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador.

Eto’o has also worked on a number of special legacy projects for Qatar in his role as an Ambassador. In April 2019, he visited a school for refugee children in Malaysia to witness the work of the Education Above All Foundation with its founder H.H. Sheikha Moza Bint Nasser.

'Qatar is building something really special – a tournament that players and fans will remember forever. The World Cup is the biggest competition in football and I think that for the players who have had the chance to play in it, there is nothing more beautiful.'

Xavi Hernández

FIFA World Cup™ winner and former Barcelona player Xavi became our first Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador in March 2018. Currently the coach of Qatar Stars League side Al Sadd, Xavi is keenly involved in our flagship corporate social responsibility programme, Generation Amazing and resides in Qatar with his wife and young family.

Prior to becoming an ambassador, Xavi's first act with Generation Amazing in 2016 was to promote football for girls at a pitch in Al Baqa'a refugee camp in Jordan. Since then, he has participated in numerous events, workshops and activations in Qatar and beyond.

He went to India in 2019 to open a Generation Amazing pitch and conduct football for development training sessions with local children and football enthusiasts.

'The SC is determined to leave a lasting legacy, long after the 2022 World Cup is over. I love helping them deliver real change. It's easy to believe in the legacy projects when you see for yourself all the good they're doing.'

Ronald de Boer

Two-time Dutch player of the year and world-class midfielder Ronald de Boer, who was part of the famous European Cup winning Ajax team in 1995, is the most recent addition to the Global Qatar Legacy Ambassador team.

De Boer has a long-standing relationship with Qatar, having lived in the country for seven years with his family. He moved to Qatar in 2004 to finish his football career playing for Qatari clubs Al Rayyan and Al Shamal between 2005-2008.

De Boer has been involved with Generation Amazing since as far back as 2010, when he travelled alongside its youth ambassadors to the  FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. He took part in inspiring football for development sessions and accompanied youth ambassadors to see their first ever FIFA World Cup™ matches.

 

'The World Cup is a way to deliver important social changes in Qatar. For me, this is the most important aspect of this project – improving the country and leaving behind a better place for the next generation.'