Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE interested in hosting 2035 Rugby World Cup

In what could be a radical change in culture and existing rules if successful, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are planning to bid for the 2035 Rugby World Cup.

According to the head of Asia Rugby, Qais Al Dhalai, the Middle East World Cup would be 'the most successful event in the history of rugby.

He believes a joint Gulf bid would stage “the most successful event in the history of rugby” and that rugby should follow football's example of hosting the World Cup in multiple countries.

For the bid to be successful, World Rugby would be forced to ratify a multi-country bid, which has yet to happen in the history of the World Cup.

If successful, it will be only the second World Cup staged in Asia after Japan hosted the tournament in 2019.

“As our leaders in the Gulf believe, nothing is impossible,” Al Dhalai told The Times newspaper. “I foresee this as something that might happen in 2035."

The game's governing body would also most likely need to change its rules on allowing UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar to play at the World Cup as hosts.

None of the three prospective hosts have ever participated in a Rugby World Cup.

At 48, the UAE are the highest-ranked side of the three. Qatar are 87th while Saudi Arabia are unranked.

Every World Cup host has played at the Rugby World Cup since the first edition in 1987.

Al Dhalai argues that the infrastructure and stadia are already in place in the three Gulf countries.

Qatar successfully hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup; Saudi Arabia will host it in 2034, and the UAE has for many years staged international sporting events.

“I don’t want to underestimate other bids, and I believe South Africa and other European countries might be interested as well, but if World Rugby worked hard on this with a solid plan, it might happen in 2035," Al Dhalai quipped.

A major issue for World Rugby to consider is moving the World Cup from the summer to winter, considering the extreme heat in the Gulf countries.

It would mean a major rethinking of the rugby calendar, particularly in the northern hemisphere, as the Six Nations would start barely a month after the World Cup final if it remained in its usual February-March position.

“I’m in favour of a multi-city hosting model, not a single host. That’s proven to work in soccer. They have done it since 2002 when Japan and Korea hosted, and are doing it again in Mexico, USA and Canada in 2026, and then again with Spain, Morocco and Portugal in 2030. Why not rugby?" said Al Dhalai.

“A multi-host could be a successful story and a new model for rugby. UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Why not? The stadiums are ready there. It will be the most successful event in the history of rugby, he insisted.

Australia will host the next men’s World Cup in 2027, which will for the first time be expanded to 24 teams from 20, then will take the women’s tournament in 2029, with the United States following with men’s and women’s competitions in 2031.

Kenya has yet to play at the 15 a side World Cup. The country has however featured in the seven a side alternative.