First Rugby World Cup to be held in US in July

The World Rugby calendar has assigned the first Rugby World Cup of Nations to be played between July and November 2026.The opening tournament will take place in Montevideo on July 4.

In this competition,Ten teams qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup to boost competitiveness;It will compete in an environment built to ensure annual international events and earning opportunities.An attractive calendar is geographical distribution;the welfare of the players;Balancing logistics costs and development opportunities and providing clarity to audiences;It provides security for teams and economic opportunities for federations.

These countries represent rugby's fastest-growing markets, many of which have seen great success in recent years thanks to targeted development programs, increased investment and record levels of fan participation.The Nations Cup will provide them with an annual platform to compete against their peers, improve their systems and optimize their experience ahead of Australia 2027.

A championship with similar countries in format

The 12 participating federations will compete in two of six teams, reflecting the structure of the Nations Championship.This ensures a consistent and relevant calendar during July and November International.Group A (US and Pacific) will include Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay and the United States, bringing together the fastest growing federations in both hemispheres.Group B (Europe, Asia and Africa) consists of Georgia, Hong Kong, China, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Zimbabwe, forming an inter-regional competition with different styles and fans.

In both windows, each team will face all the teams in the other group in a complete league format.Match points will be combined into a single leaderboard, and the highest-ranked federation in each group at the end of November will be crowned the inaugural Nations Cup champion. This structure ensures equal opportunities, competitive balance and an attractive narrative for fans and federations throughout the year.

18 matches evenly split between North and South America

In the historic month of July, fans will enjoy 18 test matches played at some of the most exciting and fast-paced venues in American rugby.From the major sports centers of North America to two of the biggest rugby cities in South America, fans will be able to enjoy exciting and back-to-back matches in Denver, Santiago, Montevideo, Edmonton and Winnipeg, turning each venue into a true rugby festival, offering incomparable fan value during the tournament.

Global content has never been seen before in North America

North America will play a central role in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, with the United States and Canada hosting nine matches, showcasing the breadth and diversity of rugby's emerging nations.Denver, Charlotte and Cary in the US will host top-level international matches, including the Tonga-Zimbabwe match, which will not only highlight rugby's growing reach, but will also meet again in next year's Rugby World Cup Men's Pool F.

The schedule in Canada includes stops in Edmonton and Winnipeg, where local fans will enjoy an elite men's test alongside their national and visiting teams in five exciting matches.Collectively, these games represent some of the most exciting content on offer in North America in July, giving fans unprecedented access to global competition and generating major momentum as the region prepares to host the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup in the United States.

Personal support for Pacific countries

To ensure a level playing field for Pacific associations, Tonga and Samoa receive proactive support from World Rugby when playing Nations Cup matches outside their territory.This approach aims to ensure financial stability, support long-term development and ensure that both associations benefit from the competition's global reach while maintaining a sustainable structure well into the future.

In parallel with the Nations Cup, World Rugby is supporting Fiji in preparing for the Nations Championship in July.Ensuring strong alignment between competitions is vital to the success of the new global calendar and this targeted support will help Fiji make the most of the competitive opportunities available in the UK, where they play their matches in Wales, England and Scotland.

A new experience designed to reach the world

The new logo unveiled at the 2026 Rugby World Cup celebrates the ambition, unity and rise of rugby's most promising nations, whose paths cross on the international stage.The Rugby World Cup reflects the competitive spirit of the 12 participating teams, with each line representing a country trying to improve its performance, strengthen its identity and gain the opportunity to progress to the national championship.The logo reflects both tradition and change, holding tournaments based on growth, opportunity and the future of the game.

All games will be available through local television partners or on RugbyPass TV, ensuring global access for fans who follow their teams.This hybrid model maximizes reach, drives commercial growth and strengthens rugby's commitment to free access in underserved markets.

World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson said: “The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup is a major milestone for international rugby.The competition creates unprecedented opportunities for these emerging teams to test themselves.Increase your experienceInspiring fans both at home and abroad.and increasing its commercial presence.Hosting the first half of the tournament in America reflects the great potential of the South American region to its great fans in South America.and increasing interest in the NorthThis is a tournament based on growth, connection.and the belief that every relationship must have a clear path to compete and grow at the highest level.”

The schedule for November, which will be the second half of the 2026 Nations Cup, which will be played in Europe and Asia, will be announced soon.This schedule will allow developing countries to compete throughout the year, giving them the consistency and strength that men's Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams have enjoyed in the past.

July's matches can be found here: world.rugby/nations-cup

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