--- title: "Qatar withdraws from hosting 2028 Nations Championship due to war uncertainty" url: https://noti.group/qatar-withdraws-from-hosting-2028-nations-championship-due-to-war/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Sports" published: 2026-11-04T08:00:29.000Z updated: 2026-11-04T11:55:32.144Z id: 796158c0-4975-44b1-bb8e-c9cd4f1ee432 source: "The Guardian Sport https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/nov/04/qatar-pulls-out-of-hosting-2028-nations-championship-owing-to-middle-east-crisis" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/qatar-withdraws-from-hosting-2028-nations-championship-due-to-war/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Qatar withdraws from hosting 2028 Nations Championship due to war uncertainty The decision to withdraw Qatar's hosting rights and title sponsorship deal was reportedly worth around £80m to the tournament for each edition held in Qatar. Qatar has pulled out of hosting the 2028 Nations Championship due to ongoing uncertainty caused by the war in the Middle East. This decision has also led to the cancellation of a planned title sponsorship deal between Qatar Airways and the tournament. The agreement that was set to see Qatar stage the six-match final series in 2028 and 2032, as well as secure a title sponsorship for four editions of the competition, has been withdrawn by both parties. The hosting rights and title sponsorship deal were reportedly worth around £80m to the Nations Championship for each tournament held in Qatar. The Six Nations and four leading Sanzaar unions who run the competition are confident that they can recover the lost funds through replacement deals. This is despite the fact that the initial write-off from cancelling the Qatar Airways sponsorship will not be significant, given its relatively lower value of £15m compared to the hosting rights. Staging the finals in Qatar was always subject to certain conditions, and it appears that these have not been met due to the current situation in the Middle East. The Nations Championship resumes this weekend with a new format and schedule, following last summer's matches in the southern hemisphere. The finals of the tournament are still set to take place over three days at Twickenham's Allianz Stadium at the end of the month, but without Qatar as hosts. The Nations Championship has received informal expressions of interest from France and Spain to host the 2028 tournament, following Qatar's decision to pull out as hosts. These countries are likely to be considered alongside any other bids that may emerge in the coming months. According to planning documents, the United States is set to host the finals in 2030, with a Rugby World Cup scheduled for 2031. This would mean that the Stade de France is now seen as the most probable venue for the 2028 finals, given its suitability and infrastructure. The outline of the Qatar deal was agreed last year, but tensions in the Middle East escalated after US airstrikes on Iran in March this year. The subsequent conflict has created a highly sensitive situation, making it difficult to proceed with the original agreement. Qatar had initially hoped to implement the deal before the first series of matches in July, but ultimately decided against it due to concerns surrounding the ongoing conflict. This decision left the Nations Championship without a title sponsor at the time. The current crisis has severely impacted sporting ambitions across the region, affecting not only Qatar but also Saudi Arabia and other neighboring countries. The future of the planned Formula One Grand Prix, set for later this month, remains uncertain amidst ongoing tensions. The Qatar MotoGP is set to go ahead as scheduled this weekend despite a boycott from several riders due to safety concerns. This decision comes amidst the ongoing Middle East crisis, which has already led to significant disruptions in various events. The cancellation of the Nations Championship in 2028 will be another major setback for the Emirate, following the MotoGP event's planned cancellation. Despite lacking a title sponsor, the championship is still expected to turn a profit in its first year, with projected growth in subsequent years driven by TV rights deals and ticket sales. Significant progress has been made towards making the Nations Championship a commercial success. Over 80 broadcasters have secured TV rights deals, while 70% of tickets for the finals weekend have been sold, with sellouts anticipated once fixtures are confirmed. The championship's revised format will see participating Six Nations teams play home and away matches against other Sanzaar nations and Japan and Fiji over the next three weeks. The top-ranked team from each region will then meet in a grand final on November 29 at the Allianz Stadium, with lower-ranked teams competing for places in the championship decider. --- Source: [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/nov/04/qatar-pulls-out-of-hosting-2028-nations-championship-owing-to-middle-east-crisis) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/qatar-withdraws-from-hosting-2028-nations-championship-due-to-war/