Qatar tackles rugby with $800M 2026 rugby ‘Super Bowl’
Hold on to your shorts because there’s big news coming your way if you’re a rugby fan. Qatar is on the brink of finalising an $800m, eight-year deal to host a ‘bi-yearly’ three-day festival dubbed the “Super Bowl of Rugby” in Doha stadiums from November 2026.
During the two-month exclusivity period, Qatar will negotiate to host all 12 tier-one nations: England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Japan (Unconfirmed), and Fiji (unconfirmed) across the tournament in stadiums like the Lusail Iconic Stadium, host of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
As a neutral destination between the top-tier teams, eight official stadiums within 54km of Doha and the perfect rugby weather, Qatar has a lot to offer as a Rugby tournament host. Its negotiation has also caught the eye of sponsors like Qatar Airways, Qatar National Bank, and Qatar Energy, who are already lined up if the bid is successful.
Qatar is now a step closer towards becoming recognised as a sports hub, especially with the current 2036 Olympic bid and the successful 2027 Basketball World Cup and 2025 World Aquatics Championships.
