Two years today Perth Stadium in Australia will host the opening match of the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup in history and kick off the tournament that will run from 1 October to 13 November 2027.
To mark the milestone, Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 has confirmed 3 December 2025 as the date of the Rugby World Cup Draw and revealed details of the new competition format.
On 3 December 2025 Wales and the other 23 qualified teams will discover their pool stage opponents, with the live draw event to be broadcast on RugbyPass TV.
This marks the first time all competing teams will be known at the time of the RWC Draw, with the 24th and final qualifier to be determined at the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai which runs 8-18 November 2025.
RWC2027 will feature six pools of four teams, with the World Rugby Men’s Rankings at the end of the November internationals used to create four bands of six teams, with each band drawn randomly into Pool A, B, C, D, E or F.
The top two teams from each pool plus the four best third-placed teams will qualify for the knockout phase.
The first-ever Men’s Rugby World Cup round of 16 will see the winners of Pool A, B, C and D play the four best thirds, winners of Pool E and F will face the runners-up from Pool D and B, with the runners-up in Pool A and C to meet the second-placed teams from Pool E and F.
For further information about the draw, format, pools and dates click here.
World Rugby Chair, Brett Robinson, said: “With only two years until the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever, I’m thrilled to see the tournament draw date revealed. The draw brings the potential match ups to life, rivalries are set and fans across the globe can envision the unforgettable rugby that awaits.
“Expanding Men’s Rugby World Cup to 24 teams is a landmark moment for our sport. It means more nations, more matches, and more opportunities for fans around the world to connect with rugby.
“The introduction of a round of 16 will deliver even more knockout rugby, ensuring every match counts and every team has the chance to make history. Importantly, we’ve been able to achieve this within a streamlined tournament window that protects player welfare while enhancing the spectacle. This is a huge step forward for rugby and a reflection of the game’s global growth.”
TOURNAMENT FACTS
– 24 teams, 52 matches, seven host cities across Australia.
– Six pools of four. First-ever round of 16 at Men’s Rugby World Cup.
– 2.5 million tickets available, including one million under AUD$100.
– Opening match: 1 October, 2027, Perth Stadium, Perth
– Final: 13 November, 2027, Stadium Australia, Sydney.
Fans will have two initial opportunities to secure their place at the tournament’s 11th edition, with the first tickets going on sale following the release of the match schedule early next year.
First, in February 2026, a closed presale will open for fans who have registered their interest before the presale begins at rugbyworldcup.com/2027. All matches and all price categories will be available during this presale, and fans are encouraged to register to give themselves the best chance to secure tickets.
Then, in May 2026, a three-week general application phase will open to all supporters worldwide, offering the chance to request tickets for any match with a ballot system implemented for oversubscribed price categories to ensure fairness.