Rugby World Cup 2027 to have 24 teams

World Rugby has announced that the expanded format of the 2027 Rugby World Cup to be played in Australia is set to feature 27 teams.

The tournament will feature six groups of four teams, expanding the total number of teams from 20 to 24. Additionally, a round of 16 will be introduced before the quarter-final stage.

World Rugby stated that this expansion is aimed at "supercharging global growth" of the sport. Twelve nations including Ireland, France, Italy, Scotland, Wales, England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Fiji, Argentina and Japan have already secured their spots for the 2027 tournament by finishing in the top three in their pools at the 2023 World Cup.

The remaining 12 teams will be based on qualification with three teams set to make it to the showpiece event from the Pacific Nations Cup outside of Fiji and Japan.

Four teams will qualify via the 2025 Rugby Europe Championship with the fifth set to participate in the Final Qualification tournament. Apart from the seven teams, one team apiece from Asia Rugby Championship, Rugby Africa Cup, Sudamerica Rugby Championship apart from the winner of South America and Pacific Nations play-off will make it to the main tournament.

The final team will be the winner of the final qualification tournament with the pool draws set to be announced by 2026.

“This qualification process is on the side of growth and sustainability for the game as a whole,” World Rugby chair Bill Beaumont said.

“We are fully committed to respecting the fundamental principle of expanded opportunity, and the blend of existing regional competitions, new cross-region competitions and a final qualification process reflects that ambition as well as the desire to deliver teams on merit.”