Qatar could be set to host another World Cup after it expressed an interest in staging the Rugby League event in 2025.
France had been named as the hosts of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup after plans to host the event in North America were scrapped.
France pulled out of the event, with organisers and the French government unable to agree on financial criteria.
Qatar 2025 Rugby World Cup
Qatar, along with New Zealand, Fiji and South Africa have expressed an interest in stepping in and staging the event.
Qatar has established itself as a suitable host for major sporting events after the success of the FIFA 2022 World Cup football competition.
It will also host the 2030 Asian games among a variety of other sporting tournaments.
With 2025 plans in disarray the International Rugby League board, the organisers of the game’s flagship international event, held an emergency meeting last week to discuss emergency plans.
These could include finding a new host, delaying the tournament or even cancelling it and waiting until 2025 to continue with the Rugby League World Cup.
International Rugby League board chairperson Tony Grant said four countries had expressed an interest in the tournament.
While Qatar does not have the same rugby heritage as New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji it does not lack funding or ambition, as proved by the FIFA tournament success.
Although plans are in early stages, Grant did acknowledge the interest. He said: “We’ve done no due diligence at this stage on any of those expressions of interest. It gives me comfort that there is interest in our sport, our tournament, our World Cup.
“That’s a positive. How real or viable any or all of those options are… we’ve yet to make those assessments.”
The tournament is scheduled for October and November 2025, and Grant said the Qatar climate could be a factor in the hosting process.
He told reporters: “I haven’t looked at the temperatures there. But ours would be slightly earlier than the football so seasonal conditions would be tough, I’d imagine.”
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