QSI Acquires a European Football Club: A New Chapter in Sports Management

For several years, Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), which has owned Paris Saint-Germain since 2011, has been looking to expand its influence in Europe. The Qatari group explored various options, initially looking into Malaga in Spain, before acquiring a 30% stake in SC Braga in Portugal in 2022. However, this minority stake did not offer the desired sporting expansion, prompting QSI to continue its search for a fully controlled club.

This spring, discussions intensified regarding potential acquisitions, with early indications pointing towards Belgium. Parisian leaders were refining their strategy to structure a future network of clubs. After years of anticipation, the process has culminated with the official announcement of the upcoming acquisition of KAS Eupen, a club playing in the Challenger Pro League.

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In its announcement, QSI stated that it has signed a memorandum of understanding to acquire the entire club and immediately take over its sporting activities. Owned by the Aspire Zone Foundation, KAS Eupen is seen by the Qatari group as an ideal potential for structuring a multi-club ecosystem. QSI highlighted a “very attractive football market” and outlined its priorities: “the development of the youth academy, the modernization of infrastructure, and enhancing community engagement.” This roadmap represents a significant milestone for QSI, marking its first total control of a European club outside of PSG.

“Qatar Sports Investments (QSI), one of the leading strategic investment groups in sports, culture, entertainment, and lifestyle, is pleased to announce the upcoming acquisition of KAS Eupen, a historic Belgian football club currently competing in the Challenger Pro League. The inclusion of KAS Eupen within the QSI group further strengthens its position as a global player in football and business, in addition to its majority stake in Paris Saint-Germain and minor investment in Sporting Clube de Braga, along with other prominent QSI investments in padel (Premier Padel), art (Art Basel), and various multisport projects covering motorsports, basketball, and more.

QSI has signed a memorandum of understanding confirming the imminent acquisition of the entire club, pending usual regulatory approvals, and the immediate resumption of KAS Eupen’s sporting activities. Under the terms of the agreement, QSI will eventually gain full operational control of the club, including all associated sports, commercial, and operational assets in a very short timeframe. In addition to this strategic investment, QSI will support the club’s transformation with its world-class expertise, while connecting it to QSI’s fully integrated and high-performance model, which encompasses multiple clubs, sports, and activities.

KAS Eupen is being acquired from the Aspire Zone Foundation (Aspire). Under Aspire’s ownership, the club established itself as a stable and respected team. Belgium is also a very attractive football market, where strong competition among high-quality teams fosters talent development across the country, providing KAS Eupen with significant potential for sustainable long-term growth.

This investment reflects QSI’s core strategy of developing sports assets, improving athlete development and pathways, and fostering high-performance environments within and between its properties. QSI and the club’s leaders will focus on strengthening the sporting model of KAS Eupen, expanding its commercial capabilities, and identifying growth opportunities in both national and international markets. Key priorities will include developing the youth academy, modernizing infrastructure, and enhancing community engagement. Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, president of Qatar Sports Investments, remarked: “Qatar Sports Investments is proud to become the guardian of KAS Eupen and to contribute to the development of football in Belgium. Through QSI’s global expertise and passion for football, our aim is to build a modern and competitive football and commercial structure that will make KAS Eupen supporters proud and build on the club’s fantastic legacy to date. We warmly welcome a fantastic club and community into our family.”