Australia is preparing to host the 11th Rugby World Cup, set to begin on October 1, 2027, featuring a record 24 teams competing over six weeks. This marks an expansion from previous tournaments, which included 20 teams, and the event is anticipated to draw unprecedented attendance figures.
The tournament will be held across seven Australian cities: Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Townsville, and Newcastle. A total of 52 matches are scheduled, and early ticket sales suggest strong global interest despite concerns about the sport's declining popularity in some regions.
More than 750,000 pre-sale tickets have already been sold to fans from 135 countries, with the largest purchasers including Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Japan, and France. Other significant buyers come from Chile, the United States, and Canada. Notably, over half of these tickets were sold within the first six hours of release. Highly sought-after fixtures include Australia versus New Zealand, England versus Wales, Ireland versus Scotland, and matches slated for the knockout rounds.
World Rugby chief Brett Robinson described the early ticket uptake as a positive indicator, expressing optimism about the event’s potential impact. “It’s going to be a party like nothing on earth,” Robinson said.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup, hosted in France, attracted approximately 2.4 million spectators. This year’s tournament in Australia offers 2.5 million tickets, indicating that the attendance record is likely to be surpassed. Another ticket batch is expected to be released imminently.
The event is also forecast to provide a significant economic boost to Rugby Australia, which recorded a substantial operating surplus in 2026 following a profitable 2025 British and Irish Lions tour. Rugby Australia chairman Daniel Herbert characterized hosting the men's 2027 World Cup and the women's tournament in 2029 as a “generational opportunity.” The organization projects revenues around AUD 100 million (approximately USD 58.9 million).
Historically, only four nations have won the Rugby World Cup: South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and England. South Africa, the current world champion with four titles, leads the field as the favorite for the upcoming tournament. The Springboks recently reinforced their top world ranking by narrowly defeating New Zealand three games to one in the “Greatest Rivalry” series of four tests.
According to the tournament draw, South Africa and New Zealand are positioned to avoid meeting in the final but could face each other in the quarterfinals if both teams win their respective groups as predicted.