Rugby World Cup 2027: Australia opens the tournament in Perth, expanded format

2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup: Expanded Format and New Thrills

The 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, to be held with an expanded format, promises to be a historic event. For the first time, the tournament will include a round of 16, which will increase the excitement and opportunities for the participating teams. The tournament, which will begin on October 1, 2027, and end on November 13, will feature the participation of 24 nations, a significant increase from the 20 that competed in previous editions. The group stage will be made up of six groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group, along with the four best third-placed teams, will advance to the knockout stage. The tournament draw, which will be held on December 3rd, will reveal the pairings of each group, generating anticipation among the teams and fans.

The tournament will open at Perth’s Optus Stadium, with a capacity of 60,000 spectators, and the opening match will feature the Wallabies. The Wallabies’ opponent will be determined after the draw on December 3rd. Sydney will host the semi-finals and the final of the tournament. Chile secured its place as the number 23 nation after defeating Samoa 31-12 in the South America/Pacific play-off. The last spot, number 24, will be defined in the Final Qualifying Tournament, which will take place in Dubai from November 8 to 18. The Wallabies, currently seventh in the rankings, will seek to move up to the top six to avoid facing powerhouses in the group stage.

Expanding the World Cup to 24 teams is a historic moment for our sport.

Brett Robinson, President of World Rugby

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney and Townsville will also be World Cup match venues. South Africa, winner of the last two World Cups, will face competition from teams like New Zealand, Ireland, England, France, Argentina, and Australia. The Wallabies have experienced a resurgence under coach Joe Schmidt, who will leave his position after Saturday’s match against the All Blacks in Perth. His replacement, Les Kiss, has already been appointed.