Hosts for the next six Rugby World Cup's, another final at Twickenham
Rugby NewsSunday, 28 September 2025 at 13:39
Rugby fans are already thinking about the next era of World Cups, with a few hosts already on the horizon.
England won the latest Women's World Cup in England yesterday, adding to the excitement around the sport’s future.
But attention is starting to shift further ahead, where a new group of nations — and even entire regions — are quietly positioning themselves for a future shot at glory.
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Australia 2027: The Golden Decade Begins
Australia will host the 2027 Rugby World Cup, kicking off a “golden decade” of major sporting events Down Under.
Expanded format: The tournament grows from 20 to 24 teams, split into six pools, with a new round of 16 knockout stage.
Host cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville.
Final destination: Sydney’s Accor Stadium, capacity 82,000, will stage both semi-finals and the final.
Economic boost: Organisers expect 250,000 international visitors and over AUD 1.3 billion in direct visitor spend.
The challenge? Balancing logistics across such a vast country while ensuring the expanded tournament delivers quality alongside quantity.
USA 2031: Rugby Goes Stateside
For the first time, the Rugby World Cup heads to America in 2031.
Biggest market yet: The U.S. brings colossal stadiums, broadcast potential and commercial opportunities.
Format: Same as 2027 — 24 teams and 16-team knockout.
Opportunities: Growing grassroots rugby, Major League Rugby clubs, and the global exposure of playing in NFL-sized venues.
Challenges: Competing with the NFL, college football, and MLB for stadium dates. Also, ensuring a rugby atmosphere in cavernous arenas not built with the sport in mind.
It’s a gamble — but one World Rugby hopes will pay off by finally cracking America.
The Race for 2035: Who’s Next?
After Australia and the USA, attention turns to 2035. With Europe likely in line for rotation, several heavyweights and ambitious newcomers are circling.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “Rugby World Cups are the sport’s greatest platform and the men’s edition fuels the growth and sustainability of the sport.
“The process we are launching for 2035 sits at the very heart of our renewed strategy to grow the reach, strength and impact of the global game for our members.
“Following historic tournaments in the USA, we see 2035 as another major opportunity to unlock new audiences and additional value while ensuring Rugby World Cup continues to inspire and unite the world through rugby.”
Spain
- Pros: Global tourism hotspot, renovated mega-stadiums like Camp Nou (105,000) and the Bernabéu, strong transport links.
- Cons: Rugby is still developing domestically, and stadium scheduling around La Liga will be a challenge.
England
- Pros: Already proven hosts (1991, 2015), Twickenham and Premier League stadiums ready, huge rugby fanbase and guaranteed sell-outs.
- Cons: World Rugby may want novelty rather than another return to a traditional powerhouse.
Italy
- Pros: Strong Six Nations presence, passionate northern rugby culture, decent stadium network.
- Cons: Infrastructure upgrades needed, less global tourism pull than Spain, not as commercially lucrative.
Gulf States (Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia)
- Pros: Enormous financial backing, modern stadiums, appetite to host mega-events, first World Cup in the Middle East.
- Cons: Climate challenges (September/October heat), little local rugby tradition, political and human rights concerns.
South Africa
- Pros: Rugby-mad nation, rich history (1995, 2007), proven stadiums and atmosphere.
- Cons: Economic instability and World Rugby’s desire to spread the game could work against them.
Japan
- Pros: 2019 was a huge success, expanding rugby into Asia, with strong infrastructure and fan engagement.
- Cons: Hosting again so soon may be viewed as repetitive; some stadiums still smaller compared to European options.
POLL:
RUCK’s 2035 Power Rankings
So, who’s favourite to land the World Cup in 2035? Here’s how we see it right now:
- Spain – Momentum, mega stadiums, and a fresh European flavour.
- England – Safe hands, guaranteed revenue, but less novelty.
- Gulf States – Financial muscle could sway World Rugby, but major hurdles remain.
- Italy – Solid option, but may be overshadowed by Spain.
- South Africa – A classic rugby nation, though political and economic issues are obstacles.
- Japan – Proven host, but unlikely to return so soon after 2019.
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