World Cup 2027 Repechage Tournament Schedule Announced: Samoa, Paraguay, Namibia, Belgium
It’s a relief from a Canadian perspective to announce the repechage tournament knowing Canada has already qualified for the 2027 World Cup. Canada didn’t even make the repechage tournament for the 2023 World Cup, and they had to win the repechage to make the 2019 World Cup. In that 2019 repechage tournament Canada defeated Germany, Hong Kong and Kenya to advance to the World Cup. This year Canada defeated USA to claim direct entry to the World Cup.
The big question this repechage is, what’s happened to Samoa. They were not expected to be in this position, they are ranked 16th in the world, they were ranked 14th at the beginning of the year, yet they were defeated by USA, then Chile on the route to World Cup qualifying. According to the World Rugby preview article on the Pacific Nations Cup, “Samoa are missing a number of key players – including prop Kaynan Siteine-Tua, back-row Jonah Mau’u, fly-half Jacob Umaga, midfielder Duncan Paia’aua, and full-back Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong – who featured in the July test defeat against Scotland, their only outing so far this year.”
If I go to Ai and ask the question, I get a further list of players Samoa are missing including some already mentioned by the World Rugby article. If Samoa can manage to get all their professional players committed to playing the repechage they would be the favourites.
| Player | Position | Club | Impact |
| Steven Luatua | Back Row (Flanker/No. 8) | Bristol Bears ( | Former All Black; immense experience, leadership, and world-class skill in the forwards. |
| Chris Vui | Lock/Flanker | Bristol Bears | Co-Captain, a genuine world-class lineout operator and ball-carrying forward. |
| Michael Alaalatoa | Tighthead Prop | Clermont Auvergne | Captain/Senior leader and a powerful scrummager vital for set-piece stability. |
| Duncan Paia’aua | Centre/Fullback | Toulon | Experienced, creative playmaker in the midfield. |
| Jacob Umaga | Flyhalf/Fullback | Benetton | Key tactical kicker and attacking threat at 10 or 15. |
| U.J. Seuteni | Centre | La Rochelle | Powerful and skillful center who was a key figure at the 2023 RWC. |
| Liam Sopoaga | Flyhalf | Lyon | Another experienced former All Black who adds composure and a strong kicking game. |
One team who are surprise participants in the repechage is Paraguay, they defeated Brazil in the home and away series to claim the regional spot for South America.
from World Rugby
The race to secure the final ticket to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia is reaching its climax, with Belgium, Namibia, Samoa, and Paraguay now confirmed as the four competing nations in the Final Qualification Tournament (FQT).
The race to secure the final ticket to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia is reaching its climax, with Belgium, Namibia, Samoa, and Paraguay now confirmed as the four competing nations in the Final Qualification Tournament (FQT).
Following their decisive encounter on Saturday, 18 October, Paraguay made history, overcoming Brazil (70-43 on aggregate) to keep their Rugby World Cup dream alive and earn their place in the RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament.
They join Belgium, Namibia, and Samoa who qualified from regional competitions in what promises to be an intense final chapter of the qualification journey.
The tournament will take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from 8–18 November 2025, serving as the last opportunity for teams to qualify for the expanded 24-team Men’s Rugby World Cup. All matches will be hosted at The Sevens Stadium, a venue with a proud rugby heritage and a reputation for world-class international competition.
The match schedule has been confirmed, with three match days set for 8, 13, and 18 November. The tournament will follow a round-robin format, where each team faces the others once. The team finishing top of the standings on competition points after the three rounds will claim the 24th and final spot at Australia 2027.
Men’s RWC 2027 Final Qualification Tournament
(all times local Dubai time GMT+4)
Match day 1 – 8 November
17:00 – Samoa v Paraguay
19:30 – Belgium v Namibia
Match day 2 – 13 November
17:00 – Belgium v Paraguay
19:30 – Samoa v Namibia
Match day 3 – 18 November
17:00 – Namibia v Paraguay
19:30 – Samoa v Belgium
The tournament will be available to watch everywhere in the world, either through local broadcast partners or via RugbyPass TV.
World Rugby has also confirmed the Emirates Match Official appointments for the six matches, ensuring the highest standards of officiating for what promises to be a thrilling and decisive competition.
Jordan Way (Australia), Craig Evans (Wales), Eoghan Cross (Ireland) and Damián Schneider (Argentina) will each take charge of one match across the opening two rounds, with Griffin Colby (South Africa) and Brett Cronan (Australia) an assistant referee and Television Match Official respectively across the tournament.
Way and Evans will referee the games on 18 November with the Welshman handed the encounter between top two seeds Samoa and Belgium, which could prove the decisive match in determining the final qualifier for RWC 2027.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “The Final Qualification Tournament represents the ultimate test of resilience, belief, and ambition for these four nations. Each team has overcome enormous challenges to reach this stage, and only one will earn the right to compete at Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. With Dubai set to host what promises to be an exciting and fiercely contested event, the Final Qualification Tournament embodies the global growth and inclusivity at the heart of our sport.”
As the qualification process nears its conclusion, attention will soon turn to Sydney, which will host the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw on 3 December. The 24 qualified teams will be divided into four bands of six based on the Men’s World Rugby Rankings as of 1 December, 2025, before being drawn randomly into six pools of four.