- Published
Barcelona's Nou Camp, Real Madrid's Bernabeu and the Mestalla in Valencia are all on a list of possible stadiums as Spain bids to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035.
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Spain → publish → 2035
The Spanish Rugby Federation says it aims to deliver the "best World Cup in history", connecting the tournament to 700 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
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it → say → speakers
If Spain's bid is successful, 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.
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showpiece → revamp → fans
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.
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Rugby → bid → 2027
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.
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Spain → say → Morocco
The Rugby World Cup 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.
"
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bid → have → venues
We have complete confidence in our organisational capability, our sports infrastructure is at the cutting edge of innovation, and we are convinced that hosting Rugby World Cup 2035 will bring new and unique dimensions of hospitality, collaboration, unity and friendship to the global rugby family
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hosting → have → family
," said Juan Carlos Martin 'Hansen', executive president of the Spanish federation.
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Hansen → say → federation
Spain have qualified for the 2027 tournament in Australia, which will be their first appearance at a men's World Cup since 1999.
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which → qualify → 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.
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federation → have → nation
"Rugby is becoming part of our country's identity," added Martin.
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Martin → become → identity
"Working together with World Rugby, we can make Rugby World Cup 2035 a turning point in the global growth of the sport, for the benefit of generations to come."
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.
The San Mames is on a list of 14 stadiums submitted to World Rugby, which will be reduced to 9 or 10 if the Spanish bid is successful.
Spain has also staged World Rugby Sevens events, with further editions confirmed in Castile and Leon for 2027 and 2028 respectively.
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editions → work → 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.
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Rugby → take → 2027
A formal announcement is expected during the 2027 tournament in Australia.
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announcement → expect → Australia
Japan and a South American group of nations led by Argentina have announced their bids.
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Japan → lead → 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.
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tournament → include → America
Japan hosted a similarly ground-breaking World Cup in 2019 - the first to take place in Asia - which smashed commercial and audience records.
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which → host → records
The 2027 and 2029 World Cups are taking place in Australia, with the US hosting in 2031 and 2033.
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US → take → 2031
Spain a sleeping giant - analysis
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Spain → sleep → ?
Spain is a sleeping giant of European rugby, with the sporting culture and infrastructure to become an elite rugby nation.
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Spain → sleep → culture
A World Cup in 2035 would supercharge this ambition, and the prospect of some of the most iconic football stadiums in the world hosting matches is tantalising.
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some → supercharge → matches
With the World Cups in 2027 and 2031 taking place in Australia and the US, it is also very possible that World Rugby would want to return the tournament to Europe in 2035.
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Rugby → take → 2035
However, Argentina's bid tugs on the heart strings given the magnificent role the Pumas have played in so many World Cups over the decades.
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Pumas → tug → decades
But, while a South American tournament could be wonderful, Argentina and the co-hosts would need to prove to World Rugby they have the infrastructure and financial clout of Spain and Japan.
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they → need → Spain
As was the case with Ireland and South Africa in 2023, the romantic bid is often overlooked in favour of commercial imperatives.
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bid → overlook → imperatives
This is where Japan come into it as another serious contender, given the huge success on and off the field in 2019.
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Japan → come → 2019
The Aporia
