Rugby World Cup qualifiers head to Americas in July for 2026 Nations Cup

The 12 regional qualifiers for Rugby World Cup 2027 will head to the Americas in July to compete in the newly-formed Nations Cup.

Across a landmark month, fans will be treated to 18 Test matches – including three first-time fixtures: Samoa vs Hong Kong China, USA vs Zimbabwe and Canada vs Zimbabwe.

Matches will be played in the United States and Canada in North America and Uruguay and Chile in South America, with Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo having the honour of hosting the first-ever Nations Cup fixture on July 4th, as Los Teros take on Georgia, the highest-ranked of all the participating teams.

In World Rankings order, the teams competing in the Nations Cup are as follows: Georgia (13), Portugal (14), Uruguay (15), USA (16), Spain (17), Chile (18), Tonga (19), Samoa (20), Romania (22), Hong Kong China (23), Zimbabwe (24), Canada (25).

The 12 teams will be split into two pools of six, mirroring the format of the top division, the Nations Championship, which will be played in the same international window.

Pool A (Americas & Pacific pool) features Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, and the USA, while Pool B (Europe, Asia & Africa) comprises Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Zimbabwe.

In addition to the historic first-time Tests, there are some mouthwatering rematches. The USA’s opening clash with Portugal will rekindle memories of the 16-16 draw between the teams in the last match of the Final Qualification Tournament for RWC 2023, which saw Os Lobos qualify at the Eagles’ expense.

Meanwhile, Canada will be desperate for revenge when they take on Spain in Edmonton, having lost 24-23 to Los Leones with the last kick of the game in July last year.

Canada vs Spain (Pool C) is one of three fixtures that will be repeated at RWC 2027. Tonga and Zimbabwe (Pool F) and Chile and Hong Kong China (Pool A) will also get an early idea of what they’ll be up against in Australia, when they clash in Denver and Viña del Mar, respectively.

The November schedule, forming the second half of the Nations Cup 2026 and played in Europe and Asia, will be announced in due course.

All matches will be available either through domestic broadcast partners or on RugbyPass TV, ensuring global accessibility for fans following their teams.

World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “The inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup is a major milestone for the global game. The competition is creating unprecedented opportunities for these promising teams to test themselves, build experience, inspire supporters home and away, and grow their commercial footprint.

“Staging the first half of the tournament across the Americas reflects the enormous potential of the region, from the deep passion of South American fans to the outstanding venues and growing interest in the North.

“This is a tournament built on growth, connection, and the belief that every union should have a clear pathway to compete and thrive at the highest level.”

WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP – JULY SCHEDULE

Round 1 (4 July)
Uruguay v Georgia, Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay, KO 14:00
Samoa v Hong Kong China, National Stadium, Santiago, Chile, KO 15:00
Chile v Romania, Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile, KO 18:00
Tonga v Zimbabwe, DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO, USA, KO 16:15
Canada v Spain, Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada, KO 19:00
USA v Portugal, DICK’s Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO, USA, KO 19:00

Round 2 (11 July)
Uruguay v Romania, Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay, KO 14:00
Samoa v Georgia, Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile, KO 15:00
Tonga v Spain, Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada, KO 15:45
Chile v Hong Kong China, Estadio Sausalito, Viña del Mar, Chile, KO 18:00
USA Zimbabwe, American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC, USA, 19:30
Canada Portugal, Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada, KO 19:00

Round 3 (18 July)
Samoa v Romania, Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay, KO 11:30
Uruguay v Hong Kong China, Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay, KO 14:00
Tonga v Portugal, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada, KO 15:45
Chile v Georgia, Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile, KO 18:00
USA v Spain, WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC, USA, KO 19:30
Canada v Zimbabwe, Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada, KO 19:00

*All KOs local time