World Rugby Nations Cup 2026: Schedule, Fixture, Dates, Start Times, Venues, How To Watch
It is the inaugural edition of a new second-tier international rugby competition for 12 men's teams. It runs alongside the top-tier Nations Championship and provides meaningful, consistent test matches for emerging and developing rugby nations ahead of the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
The format mirrors the Nations Championship:
Two pools of 6 teams each.
Each team plays a full cross-pool round-robin (every team from Pool A plays every team from Pool B).
Matches are split across the July 2026 (Americas) and November 2026 (Europe & Asia) international windows.
Points from all matches combine into overall standings.
At the end of November, the top team in each pool will be crowned co-champions (no promotion/relegation in 2026).
How to Watch World Rugby Nations Cup 2026?
Global streaming: RugbyPass TV (most matches live, often free in many regions)
USA: Paramount+ (especially matches involving USA)
Local TV in participating countries (check domestic partners)
World Rugby Nations Cup Pools
Pool A (Americas & Pacific):
Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, USA
Pool B (Europe, Asia & Africa):
Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Zimbabwe
World Rugby Nations Cup July 2026 Schedule
(Americas – 18 matches)
All times shown as in the announcement (local / BST where provided).
Round 1 – 4 July 2026
Uruguay vs Georgia Р14:00 local (18:00 BST), Estadio Charr̼a, Montevideo, Uruguay
Samoa vs Hong Kong China – 15:00 local (20:00 BST), Estadio Nacional Julio MartÃnez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
Chile vs Romania – 18:00 local (23:00 BST), Estadio Nacional Julio MartÃnez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile
Tonga vs Zimbabwe – 16:15 local (23:15 BST), DICK's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO, USA
Canada vs Spain – 19:00 local (02:00 +1 BST), Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
USA vs Portugal – 19:00 local (02:00 +1 BST), DICK's Sporting Goods Park, Denver, CO, USA
Round 2 – 11 July 2026
Uruguay vs Romania Р14:00 local (18:00 BST), Estadio Charr̼a, Montevideo, Uruguay
Samoa vs Georgia Р15:00 local (20:00 BST), Estadio Sausalito, Vi̱a del Mar, Chile
Tonga vs Spain – 15:45 local (22:45 BST), Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
Chile vs Hong Kong China Р18:00 local (23:00 BST), Estadio Sausalito, Vi̱a del Mar, Chile
USA vs Zimbabwe – 19:30 local (00:30 +1 BST), American Legion Memorial Stadium, Charlotte, NC, USA
Canada vs Portugal – 19:00 local (02:00 +1 BST), Clarke Stadium, Edmonton, Canada
Round 3 – 18 July 2026
Samoa vs Romania Р11:30 local (15:30 BST), Estadio Charr̼a, Montevideo, Uruguay
Uruguay vs Hong Kong China Р14:00 local (18:00 BST), Estadio Charr̼a, Montevideo, Uruguay
Tonga vs Portugal – 15:45 local (21:45 BST), Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada
Chile vs Georgia – 18:00 local (23:00 BST), Estadio La Portada, La Serena, Chile
USA vs Spain – 19:30 local (00:30 +1 BST), WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, NC, USA
Canada vs Zimbabwe – 19:00 local (01:00 +1 BST), Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, Canada
Key notes on July:
Heavy focus on North and South America (Denver, Charlotte, Cary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Montevideo, Santiago, Viña del Mar, La Serena).
Special support for Pacific teams (Tonga & Samoa) playing away from home for financial and developmental reasons.
Several matches will be broadcast via domestic partners or RugbyPass TV.
November 2026
The second half of the competition (remaining cross-pool matches in Europe and Asia) will be announced later. The full year-long schedule ensures every team gets consistent high-level tests.
New Logo & Purpose
World Rugby introduced a fresh logo featuring the World Rugby shield with rising lines — symbolising growth, ambition, and the pathway for these nations to climb toward the Nations Championship. The tournament aims to boost competitiveness, player development, fan engagement, and commercial opportunities for growing rugby markets.
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