South America Submits Joint 2035 Rugby World Cup Bid

Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil submitted a joint bid on October 6 to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, aiming to bring the tournament to South America for the first time. The proposal maps out matches across 11 stadiums in 10 cities, deploying eight venues in Argentina alongside single host sites in Uruguay, Chile, and Brazil, including the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

South American Unions Coordinate Collaborative Bid

The multi-nation bid represents a collaborative effort coordinated alongside regional unions and Sudamerica Rugby. Argentine Rugby Union President Felix Paez Molina emphasized the scale of the undertaking in an official statement provided to Reuters.

We have the opportunity to show the world our passion for this sport, our ability to host major events, and everything our countries have to offer. We take on this challenge firmly believing that our region deserves an opportunity of this size. It’s a project we’re excited about, and we’re building it together with the region’s Unions and Sudamerica Rugby. Our hope is that, for the first time, a Rugby World Cup can be played in this part of the world.

Felix Paez Molina

South America's bid competes with declared interest from Spain and Japan. Argentina holds the strongest competitive pedigree in the region as the most successful rugby-playing nation in the Americas, highlighted by Pumas semifinal appearances at the World Cup in 2007, 2015, and 2023. Meanwhile, Uruguay has appeared at five tournament editions, Chile made its tournament debut in 2023, and Brazil has yet to qualify.

World Rugby Will Name Preferred Host by May

World Rugby will execute site visits and feasibility assessments for all interested candidates before naming a preferred host by next May. The governing body’s formal selection process concludes with a final decision scheduled for November 2027.

The global tournament schedule places upcoming editions in Australia for 2027, followed by the United States hosting in 2031 to mark the competition’s first foray into the Americas. If successful, the South American bid would anchor the quadrennial event on the continent in 2035.