Argentina has officially entered the race to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, marking the country’s first-ever bid to stage rugby union’s premier global tournament.
The bid, led by the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR), could evolve into a multi-nation proposal including Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile—a move aimed at strengthening rugby’s footprint across South America.
“This project is led by Argentina for the entire region,†the UAR said in a statement, emphasizing a strategy to integrate neighboring unions and showcase the growth of the sport across the continent.
The host for the 13th edition of the Rugby World Cup will be confirmed in November 2027, with preferred bidders expected to be shortlisted earlier that year by World Rugby.
Argentina faces competition from several potential bidders, including Spain, Italy, Japan, and a possible joint Middle East bid involving Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
The tournament continues its global expansion path, with the 2027 edition set for Australia and the 2031 edition heading to the United States, marking the first time the competition will be staged in the Americas.
Argentina’s national team has reached the semifinals three times (2007, 2015, 2023), but notably, South America has never hosted a Rugby World Cup match. That historical gap is central to the bid’s narrative.
UAR president Gabriel Travaglini described the project as a “legacy initiative that transcends borders,†adding that the region is ready to demonstrate its capability to host a tournament of global scale.
As the bidding process unfolds, Argentina’s proposal represents not just a national ambition, but a broader continental push to bring elite rugby to new territory.