The number of competing teams will be increased from 20 to 24, with Ireland already guaranteed their place.
Twelve teams – Ireland, France, New Zealand, Italy, South Africa, Scotland, Wales, Fiji, Australia, England, Argentina and Japan – have qualified directly by finishing top three in their pool at France 2023, while 12 teams will be determined via the RWC 2027 global qualification process.
In each region, teams will qualify as follows:
Europe (4) – Rugby Europe Championship 2025 top four teams
Africa (1) – Rugby Africa Cup 2025 champions
Asia (1) – Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 champions
South America (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 champions
Pacific (3) – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 top three teams (minus Fiji and Japan already qualified)
South America/Pacific Play-off (1) – Sudamerica Rugby Championship 2025 runners up against Pacific Nations Cup’s bottom team (excluding qualified teams)
Final Qualification Tournament (1)
With all qualification set to be concluded by the end of 2025, a first for the Men’s World Cup, all teams will be known before the World Cup 2027 draw takes place ahead of the 2026 Six Nations.
The new World Cup format will feature six pools of four teams, with a round of 16 added prior to the quarter-finals.
This will enable the tournament window to be reduced from seven to six weeks, all the while maintaining the same minimum number of rest days between matches as at France 2023.
World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: “This qualification process is on the side of growth and sustainability for the game as a whole. 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.
“Providing certainty to the unions in pursuit of the Australian dream will help teams fine tune their preparations and provide fans with an exciting road to Rugby World Cup 2027 next year where all places will be up for grabs.
“It is our desire for the process to qualify teams into the first iteration of the Nations Championship Division 2, which begins in 2026. This has the major advantage of ensuring that all teams will have strong, high-level competition and preparation ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027, raising standards globally.”
Meanwhile, World Rugby has also announced changes to its national eligibility regulation.
From August 1, 2024, any player with a genuine, close, credible and established link to a union is no longer required to complete 60 months (five years) of unbroken residency in the relevant country right up to the first time that player represents the union.
The onus will be on the union and rugby body to demonstrate the relevant proof of unbroken registration when considering an eligibility case on rugby residency.
