Chicago: 31 October, 2025
World Rugby has confirmed that 27 cities and areas have formally entered the Applicant Phase of the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031 Host Selection Process, marking a major milestone on the journey to the first-ever Rugby World Cup hosted in the United States.
The announcement was made at the United by Rugby Summit in Chicago, on the eve of the sold-out Ireland v New Zealand test match at Soldier Field, celebrating the continued rise of rugby in the U.S. and the sport’s growing global reach.
Following the conclusion of the initial Expression of Interest stage, 27 cities/areas (featuring 33 venues) have now submitted signed Letters of Intent to continue in the selection process. The applicants are:
Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Birmingham, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles Region, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, St. Louis, Vancouver, and Washington DC.
“Serving as one of the host cities for the 2031 Rugby World Cup would be an honor and an incredible opportunity to showcase Birmingham’s top-tier venues, signature hospitality, and vibrant culture to the world,” said Dan Williams, President and CEO of the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “The Greater Birmingham CVB, alongside our partners at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex, City of Birmingham, and Jefferson County, stand at the ready for this opportunity to provide an exceptional experience for visitors from across the rugby world in 2031.”
The Greater Birmingham Region welcomes more than 4.04 million visitors each year and has established itself as a premier sports destination in the Southeast by successfully hosting high-level international and national sporting competitions, including the 2017 National Senior Games, 2022 World Games, 2024 Transplant Games of America, and the 2025 World Police & Fire Games, with World Boccia in 2026, NCAA Division II Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field Finals, in 2027, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament First and Second Rounds in 2028, and National Senior Games in 2029 on the horizon.
Annually, the calendar is full of major sporting events like the JLab Birmingham Bowl at Protective Stadium, Children’s of Alabama Indy Grand Prix at Barber Motorsports Park, Amazon Magic City Classic presented by Coca-Cola at Historic Legion Field, and the SEC Baseball Tournament at Hoover Metropolitan Complex, among others. The Birmingham Region committed to vast infrastructure improvements that boosted the area’s ability to attract sports competitions, namely building Protective Stadium and fully modernizing Legacy Arena in 2022, and upgrading the Hoover Met Stadium and the nation’s oldest ballpark, Rickwood Field, in 2024. That same year, the Sports Business Journal took notice, naming Birmingham a top city for sporting events.
World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “The enthusiastic response from across the U.S. has been extraordinary. These cities represent not only iconic sports destinations but also new, emerging, and existing rugby communities. Their commitment underscores the opportunity Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031 presents to cement the U.S.’s status as a major player in global rugby, but also to inspire and unite new fans, audiences, and commercial partners for the sport more broadly to deliver lasting impact.”
A Strategic Step in U.S. Rugby Growth
The Applicant Phase is not only a key milestone on the journey to delivering a successful, economically strong Rugby World Cup, but also a cornerstone of World Rugby’s U.S. Growth Plan, which aims to strategically position major rugby content and events in partnership with national unions to develop addressable audiences in key rugby hubs.
Several cities engaged in the Host Selection Process are already central to these growth efforts – markets where the sport is seeing rapid fan engagement, grassroots participation, and commercial potential. Through this collaborative approach, World Rugby is building toward a sustainable rugby ecosystem in the U.S. that extends well beyond Rugby World Cup 2031 and the women’s edition in 2033, inspiring new generations of players and supporters.
Next Steps in the Host Selection Process
Cities were in attendance at the recent Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Finals Day in London, which attracted a world record 81,500 fans, to see how World Rugby delivers iconic events under its new hosting model.
Over the next 14 months, World Rugby and USA Rugby will assess, evaluate, and collaborate with all applicant cities and venues through a detailed engagement process. This includes:
– Team Base feasibility visits, which are already underway
– In-depth venue evaluations, beginning in November 2025
– Sharing of detailed hosting requirements, opportunities, and legacy potential
At the end of 2026, a reduced number of cities and venues will move into the Candidate Phase, marking the start of formal contracting.
It is World Rugby’s intention to announce the final selection of Host Cities and venues following the completion of Rugby World Cup 2027, an important milestone in observing best practice, with the tournament draw and match allocation scheduled for late 2029 or early 2030.
Gilpin added: “This is an exciting and collaborative journey. Rugby World Cup 2031 will be more than a tournament. it will be a nationwide celebration of sport, community, and culture, reflecting the diversity and dynamism of the United States.”
Rugby World Cup 2031 represents a transformational moment for rugby in the United States, an opportunity to bring the world’s third-largest sporting event to new audiences and establish a legacy of participation, connection, and growth that will benefit the game for decades to come.
About World Rugby
World Rugby is the global governing body for rugby union. With a mandate to grow the sport by increasing accessibility and relevance, World Rugby is the owner and organiser of some of the world’s largest sporting events, including the men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups. Owing to the commercial success of men’s Rugby World Cup France 2023, World Rugby is investing a record £300 million directly in rugby’s growth between 2024–27, a 28 per cent increase on the previous four-year cycle. With men’s and women’s Rugby World Cups taking place in England (women, 2025), Australia (men 2027 and women 2029) and the USA (men 2031 and women 2033), World Rugby has a transformative runway of certainty and opportunity to drive new participation and revenue opportunities.
About the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau
The Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) is the official tourism and marketing organization for Birmingham and Jefferson County. Established in 1969, the non-profit agency generates positive economic impact by positioning the Greater Birmingham Region as a premier destination for conventions, sporting events, and domestic and international leisure travel. Birmingham and its neighboring municipalities welcome more than 4.04 million visitors each year, generating $2.57 billion in economic impact. Learn more at inbirmingham.com.
