Rugby World Cup 2035: South American nations launch historic joint bid
Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil propose 11 stadiums across four nations in an effort to bring the tournament to the continent for the first time.
Four South American countries have formally lodged a joint bid to stage the men's Rugby World Cup in 2035, pitching an 11-stadium tournament that would bring the competition to the continent for the first time.
The proposal, submitted to World Rugby by the Argentine rugby union alongside the governing bodies of Chile, Uruguay and Brazil, would spread matches across all four nations. Argentina would host the bulk of the fixtures across eight venues, with one flagship ground put forward in each of the neighbouring three countries.
Organisers have positioned the bid around the region's existing sports infrastructure and large sporting public, pointing to a combined population of 283 million people across the four bidding nations.
Which stadiums are on the list?
The joint dossier features some of South America's most recognisable arenas. Argentina's eight selected venues cover seven provinces:
- Buenos Aires: Estadio Mâs Monumental and Estadio José Amalfitani
- La Plata: Estadio Único Diego Armando Maradona
- Córdoba: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes
- Mendoza: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas
- Rosario: Estadio Gigante de Arroyito
- Salta: Estadio Padre Martearena
- Santiago del Estero: Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades
The remaining three nations have each put forward their primary national sporting arena: the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, Uruguay; the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Chile.
What the organisers say
Félix Páez Molina, president of the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), said the bid is built on the region's track record of running global tournaments.
"We have the opportunity to show the world our passion for this sport, our capacity to organise major events and everything our countries have to offer," Páez Molina said in a statement announcing the filing. "It is a challenge we take on with the deep conviction that our region deserves an opportunity of this magnitude."
Marcello Calandra, president of regional governing body Sudamérica Rugby, described bringing the men's World Cup to South America as an "outstanding debt" for the sport. Chile Rugby president Cristián Rudloff noted the significance of having Chile's national side, Los Cóndores, represented in the project following their debut World Cup appearance in France in 2023.
What happens next?
The submission marks the beginning of an extended evaluation process by World Rugby, which includes venue inspections and technical reviews.
World Rugby is scheduled to name its preferred candidate for the 2035 men's tournament in May 2027. The World Rugby Council will then vote on the final host selection in November 2027.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total proposed stadiums | 11 | Unión Argentina de Rugby |
| Stadiums located in Argentina | 8 | Unión Argentina de Rugby |
| Combined population of bidder nations | 283 million | Unión Argentina de Rugby |
| Announcement of preferred host | May 2027 | World Rugby |
| Final host decision date | November 2027 | World Rugby |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Unión Argentina de Rugby | Argentine governing body leading the four-nation bid. |
| Chile Rugby | Chilean national rugby union participating in the joint bid. |