World Rugby Releases Details of RWC 2027 – Format, Draw Date, Ticket Sales
Now that Canada are back in the men’s World Cup there’s more interest in the details. This will be the first World Cup to have 24 teams, 6 pools of 4 teams and a knockout round of 16. The top 2 teams from each pool will advance to the round of 16 plus the 4 best 3rd place finishers. That means that some teams with only 1 win in the pool round may advance to the round of 16. The countries are placed in 4 bands depending on their ranking at draw time, Band 1 will be rankings 1 to 6, Band 2 are ranked 7 to 12, Band 3 are ranked 13 to 18 and Band 4 are ranked 19 to 24. Canada are ranked 24th and will be in Band 4.
The draw takes place the evening of December 3rd, Australian east coast time so 17 hours ahead of the Canadian west coast, a 7pm media announcement would be 2am on the west coast. The rankings will change between now and the December announcement but as of now Canada would be looking at defeating one of these Band 3 countries that may end up in its pool, Japan, Spain, USA, Samoa, Chile, Tonga. Japan would be the worst team to draw against, Canada have already defeated USA this year, Chile, Spain, Tonga would all be within reach and Samoa haven’t even qualified yet but are favourites to qualify.
There will be 52 matches across seven host cities over six weeks from 1 October to 13 November, 2027 and tickets will start at $40 AUD which is about $37 CAD.
from World Rugby on RWC 2027
Two years from today, Perth Stadium will host the opening match of the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup in history, kicking off six weeks of world-class rugby across Australia from 1 October to 13 November, 2027.
- Perth Stadium will host the opening match on 1 October, 2027 with the Wallabies kicking off the tournament, launching the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup in history.
- Tournament Draw set for evening (AEST) of 3 December, 2025 – all 24 qualified teams will discover their pool stage opponents.
- New 24-team expanded format: six pools of four teams, followed by a Round of 16 for the first time in Rugby World Cup history.
- 52 matches across seven host cities over six weeks, with more knockout rugby than ever before.
- Over 2.5 million tickets available – more than any previous edition, making RWC 2027 the biggest and most accessible tournament in history
- One million tickets available under AUD$100 – Tickets start at AUD$40 for adults and $20 for children.
Vision and images from two years to go celebration in Perth today can be accessed here
Two years from today, Perth Stadium will host the opening match of the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup in history, kicking off six weeks of world-class rugby across Australia from 1 October to 13 November, 2027.
Celebrating the milestone at Perth’s Kings Park, Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 confirmed 3 December, 2025 as the date of the Rugby World Cup Draw and revealed details of the new competition format. On the evening (AEST) of 3 December, 2025, the 24 qualified teams will discover their pool stage opponents, with the live draw event to be broadcast in Australia on Channel Nine, on international broadcasters and 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 November’s Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai (8-18 November).
The tournament 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, allowing more nations to reach that stage, ensuring every match counts and bringing more entertainment to the competition.
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.
This expanded format reflects rugby’s global growth, with more nations than ever before competing on the sport’s biggest stage.
ONE LAST TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR AUSTRALIA 2027
The qualification process is almost complete, with 23 teams now confirmed after Chile defeated Samoa in the South America/Pacific play-off on Saturday, 27 September in Viña del Mar. The final remaining spot will be determined at the Final Qualification Tournament from 8-18 November in Dubai.
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.”
Chris Stanley, Managing Director of Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027, added: “Two years from today, Perth and Australia will be at the centre of the sporting world as the biggest Men’s Rugby World Cup ever kicks off. The countdown is well and truly on, and excitement is building.
“The Draw on 3 December will be the next major milestone — the moment when fans and players alike discover who they’ll be facing in the pool phase. From there, anticipation will only grow as we move towards unveiling the match schedule and opening ticket sales in February 2026. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Australians to be part of a truly international celebration and for the global rugby community to share in an incredible Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.”
Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 will be the biggest sporting event on Australian soil since Sydney 2000, with the Closing Ceremony 25 years ago today.
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.
- 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.
FIRST TICKETS ON SALE IN FEBRUARY 2026
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 much-anticipated 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.
Full ticketing information available here.
Rugby World Cup Experiences, the Official Provider of Premium Experiences & Travel for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027, has launched last July its most inclusive programme yet offering fans unprecedented access, exclusive moments beyond match day, and ticket-inclusive hospitality packages now available for the opening match, quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final via Rugby World Cup Experiences.