Qatar cancels major sporting event amid the ongoing Middle East conflict

After months of negotiations, the parties involved have decided to terminate the agreement. Qatar was set to host the Nations Championship finals in both 2028 and 2032, an international rugby tournament involving, among others, the Six Nations countries. Qatar Airways was also due to serve as title sponsor for four editions.

The combined value of the hosting and sponsorship rights for each tournament in Qatar was expected to be around £80 million British pounds according to The Guardian. Organizers expect to make up for the lost revenue through new agreements. France and Spain have already expressed interest in hosting the 2028 finals, with the Stade de France in Paris currently seen as the most likely venue.

The agreement with Qatar was broadly finalized last year, but US attacks on Iran in March and the subsequent escalation in the Middle East complicated the situation. The Qatari government decided not to activate the contract for the first matches in July. Initially, there was still hope that the partnership could get underway later this year.

That prospect has now been abandoned due to the ongoing threat of further attacks. The planned partnership with Qatar Airways is also off.

The decision has no direct impact on Formula 1 or MotoGP, but it shows that the war is already having major financial and organizational consequences for sporting events in Qatar and in the region. The AFC Asian Cup, which was scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia later this year, has also been postponed by a year.

Yamaha also announced last week that it would not travel to Qatar because of the situation in the region. The Japanese manufacturer is sticking to its company-wide travel restrictions for the Middle East, despite assurances from the organizers.

MotoGP was disappointed with the decision and warned Yamaha of possible contractual and sporting consequences. After consulting with the Qatari authorities, the Lusail International Circuit and independent security advisers, the organization stressed that it saw no reason to cancel the race. It was also reported that the majority of MotoGP riders would prefer not to travel to Qatar because of the war. The riders were also said to have requested written security guarantees, including on evacuation plans and insurance.

The news from Qatar comes at a sensitive time for Formula 1. The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for November 29, followed by the season finale in Abu Dhabi on December 6. Both races remain officially on the calendar despite concerns about security. This website previously reported that Formula One Management would reassess whether the races could go ahead after the US midterm elections on November 3. A possible change to the calendar is being considered behind the scenes.

Imola is being considered as a potential alternative, and several Formula 1 teams have already booked hotel rooms in the Italian region. FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in October that he saw no reason to cancel the Grands Prix in Qatar and Abu Dhabi. He stressed that, based on the information available, the safety of drivers, staff and officials was not at risk.

Security concerns have increased since then. On Tuesday, the Iranian news agency Fars published a list of potential targets for retaliatory action should the United States and Israel launch further attacks on Iran. The list also includes hotels used by Formula 1 and MotoGP staff during race weekends.

For now, both championships are sticking to their scheduled races in Qatar. The country’s decision to pull out of a major international sporting event for the coming years underscores the uncertainty surrounding the impact of the conflict. It remains unclear whether this will also affect the Formula 1 race scheduled for late November.