RWC 2027: Qualification for Australia kicks off in January

NEWS: The qualification pathway to the next World Cup begins next year with the launch of the “Journey to Australia 2027” for teams that are yet to qualify.

In 2025, teams worldwide will compete in a series of regional qualifiers, each striving to secure one of the 12 available places.

RWC 2027 in Australia will be the first edition to feature 24 teams in an exciting, expanded format.

Twelve teams have already qualified by finishing in the top three of in their pool at France 2023 and 12 others will join them from the global qualification process and regional competitions played in 2025.

Here is how.

EUROPE – FOUR TEAMS

January-March, 2025
The four teams that reach the semi-finals of the Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 will qualify directly for RWC 2027. The winner of the fifth-place play-off will secure their ticket to the Final Qualification Tournament.
Nations involved: Belgium, Georgia, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Switzerland

ASIA – ONE TEAM

June-July, 2025
The Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 winners will qualify directly for RWC 2027 with the runner-up progressing to the Asia/Africa Play-off.
Nations involved: Hong Kong China, Korea, Malaysia, United Arab Emirates

AFRICA – ONE TEAM

July, 2025
The Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 champions will qualify directly for RWC 2027. The runner-up will progress to the Asia/Africa Play-off.
Nations involved: Algeria, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, Uganda, Zimbabwe and winner of the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 Repechage

SOUTH AMERICA – ONE TEAM

July-September, 2025
The Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 winners will secure their place at RWC 2027, with the runner-up qualifying for the South America/Pacific Play-off and third placed team joining the line-up for the Final Qualification Tournament.
Nations involved: Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay

PACIFIC – THREE TEAMS

August-September, 2025
The best three teams of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025, other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will punch their tickets to RWC 2027. The sixth-placed team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off.
Nations involved: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, USA

SOUTH AMERICA/PACIFIC – ONE TEAM

September, 2025
A home-and-away play-off between the Sudamérica Rugby Championship runner-up and the team finishing sixth in the Pacific Nations Cup.

FINAL QUALIFICATION TOURNAMENT – ONE TEAM

November 2025
The final qualification tournament will comprise one pool of four teams, playing in a round-robin format with the winner – on competition points – qualifying for RWC 2027. The four teams will be comprised of the:
• Sudamérica Rugby Championship 2025 third place
• South America/Pacific Play-off loser
• Rugby Europe Men’s Championship 2025 fifth place
• Africa/Asia Play-off winner (Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025 runner-up v Asia Rugby Men’s Championship runner-up)

To be first in line for tickets, register your interest here.