Spain launches bid with iconic football stadiums
Spain has officially launched its bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035, with Barcelona's Nou Camp, Real Madrid's Bernabeu and Valencia's Mestalla all included on a list of possible stadiums. The Spanish Rugby Federation says it aims to deliver the best World Cup in history, connecting the tournament to 700 million Spanish speakers worldwide. If the bid succeeds, the revamped Nou Camp is in line to host the final, which would be the first time the World Cup showpiece has been held in front of more than 100,000 fans.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5]
The bid has the support of the Spanish government as well as La Liga, with some of the most iconic stadiums in world football on a list of potential venues. The San Mames in Bilbao is also on a list of 14 stadiums submitted to World Rugby, which will be reduced to 9 or 10 if the Spanish bid is successful. Spanish rugby authorities say the tournament in 2035 would capitalise on the Fifa World Cup in 2030, with Spain joint hosts along with Morocco and Portugal.[S1]
Juan Carlos Martin 'Hansen', executive president of the Spanish federation, said the organisation has complete confidence in its organisational capability and sports infrastructure, and is convinced that hosting Rugby World Cup 2035 will bring new and unique dimensions of hospitality, collaboration, unity and friendship to the global rugby family. He added that rugby is becoming part of the country's identity and that working together with World Rugby, the tournament could be a turning point in the global growth of the sport for the benefit of generations to come.[S1]
Argentina and Japan also in the running
Argentina and Japan are also bidding to host the tournament, with World Rugby expected to announce its preferred bidder in the spring or summer of 2027. Site visits and feasibility assessments are due to take place from December, with World Rugby planning to identify its preferred candidate by the late spring or summer of 2027. A formal announcement is expected during the 2027 tournament in Australia.[S1]
Japan and a South American group of nations led by Argentina have announced their bids. A tournament in Argentina would also include Brazil, Chile and Uruguay and would break ground as the first Rugby World Cup in South America. Japan hosted a similarly ground-breaking World Cup in 2019, the first to take place in Asia, which smashed commercial and audience records. The 2027 and 2029 World Cups are taking place in Australia, with the US hosting in 2031 and 2033.[S1]
Spain's rugby ambitions and World Cup pedigree
Spain have qualified for the 2027 tournament in Australia, which will be their first appearance at a men's World Cup since 1999. The Spanish federation has an ambition to triple the number of people playing the sport in the country by 2035 and, ultimately, establish Spain as a Tier One rugby nation. Seven-time participants in the Women's Rugby World Cup, Spain has hosted two European finals weekends, at Bilbao's San Mames in 2018 and 2026, while the 2016 Top 14 final was held at the Nou Camp in front of 99,124 supporters. Spain has also staged World Rugby Sevens events, with further editions confirmed in Castile and Leon for 2027 and 2028 respectively.[S1]
Spain is a sleeping giant of European rugby, with the sporting culture and infrastructure to become an elite rugby nation. A World Cup in 2035 would supercharge this ambition, and the prospect of iconic football stadiums hosting matches is compelling. With the World Cups in 2027 and 2031 taking place in Australia and the US, World Rugby may look to return to Europe in 2035. However, Argentina's bid offers strong competition alongside a South American group, provided they demonstrate the required infrastructure. Japan also stands as a serious contender following the success of the 2019 tournament.[S1]
