The host selection process for the 2035 Men's Rugby World Cup was officially launched by World Rugby in September 2025, with expressions of interest opening the following month.
Selection process Unlike previous cycles, the 2035 men's process is being run independently of the 2037 women's edition to allow for more tailored hosting strategies. The bidding schedule is as follows: Date Phase October 2025 Launch of Expressions of Interest Q3 2026 Submission of detailed questionnaires Late 2026 – Early 2027 Site visits & feasibility assessments May 2027 Identification of preferred host November 2027 Final appointment and announcement
World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has indicated that the governing body is keen for the tournament to return to Europe in 2035, following the 2027 edition in Australia and the 2031 edition in the United States.
Confirmed bids As of October 2026, several nations have officially confirmed their intent to bid:
Japan The Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU) officially submitted its expression of interest on 14 January 2026. Under the campaign message "No Side Spirit," Japan aims to host the tournament for the second time, following the 2019 Rugby World Cup. To meet World Rugby's updated tournament guidelines, the bid committee is reportedly shortlisting eight to ten stadiums with a capacity of at least 25,000.
South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay)
On 17 March 2026, the Unión Argentina de Rugby (UAR) announced its bid for the 2035 tournament during a formal visit from World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin. The project is a regional effort led by Argentina in conjunction with Sudamérica Rugby, and would be the first time the tournament has been held in South America.
On 5 October 2026, the UAR and the South American region formally submitted their joint bid to World Rugby. If successful, all four of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Uruguay are to host matches at the tournament, with 11 stadiums across 10 host cities planned for use. The bid is fronted by the recently redeveloped Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which will undergo further expansion prior to 2035 regardless of the bid's success. Other proposed venues include the Estádio do Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, the Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos in Santiago, and the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo. The bid promises support from national and state governments and cites the four countries' combined population of 283 million.
Country Location Stadium Capacity Buenos Aires (Belgrano)Estadio Monumental85,018Buenos Aires (Liniers)Estadio José Amalfitani49,540CórdobaEstadio Mario Alberto Kempes57,000La PlataEstadio Único Diego Armando Maradona53,000MendozaEstadio Malvinas Argentinas42,000RosarioEstadio Gigante de Arroyito46,955SaltaEstadio Padre Ernesto Martearena21,000Santiago del EsteroEstadio Único Madre de Ciudades30,000Rio de JaneiroEstádio do Maracanã73,139SantiagoEstadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos48,745MontevideoEstadio Centenario60,235
Spain The Real Federación Española de Rugby (RFER) confirmed its bid in December 2025.
At the Gala del Rugby Español 2026, held on 24 April 2026 at the headquarters of the Spanish Olympic Committee, the RFER formally presented its candidacy under the concept "Spain Connects Rugby." Proposed venues include the Bernabéu, Camp Nou, and Estadio de La Cartuja. The RFER has secured partnerships with the Spanish government, La Liga, the Royal Spanish Football Federation, and other organisations.
Potential bids Italy In April 2025, World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson confirmed that Italy had expressed interest in bidding. The Federazione Italiana Rugby (FIR) has expressed interest in hosting the tournament, having previously bid unsuccessfully for the 2015 Rugby World Cup and 2019 Rugby World Cup. Italy is the only Six Nations nation never to have hosted a Rugby World Cup match. As of April 2026, no formal Italian bid has been announced.
Declined or withdrawn bids Middle East (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) Qais Al Dhalai, president of Asia Rugby, stated in March 2025 that a joint bid between Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia was "very likely." However, this announcement came before the news of Asia Rugby's suspension from the World Rugby Council. In April 2026, it was reported that Saudi Arabia had not submitted an expression of interest and had no plans to do so, reportedly owing to a change in the financial strategy of the Public Investment Fund.
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