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Barcelona’s Nou Camp, Real Madrid’s Bernabeu and the Mestalla in Valencia are all on a list of possible stadiums as Spain bids to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035.
The Spanish Rugby Federation says it aims to deliver the “best World Cup in history”, connecting the tournament to 700 million Spanish speakers worldwide.
If Spain’s bid is successful, the revamped Nou Camp is in line to host the final, which would be the first time the World Cup showpiece has been held in front of more than 100,000 fans.
Argentina and Japan are also bidding to host the tournament, with World Rugby expected to announce its preferred bidder in the spring or summer of 2027.
Spanish rugby authorities say the tournament in 2035 would capitalise on the Fifa World Cup in 2030, with Spain joint hosts along with Morocco and Portugal.
The Rugby World Cup bid has the support of the Spanish government as well as La Liga, with some of the most iconic stadiums in world football on a list of potential venues.
“We have complete confidence in our organisational capability, our sports infrastructure is at the cutting edge of innovation, and we are convinced that hosting Rugby World Cup 2035 will bring new and unique dimensions of hospitality, collaboration, unity and friendship to the global rugby family,” said Juan Carlos Martin ‘Hansen’, executive president of the Spanish federation.
Spain have qualified for the 2027 tournament in Australia, which will be their first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1999.
The Spanish federation has an ambition to triple the number of people playing the sport in the country by 2035 and, ultimately, establish Spain as a Tier One rugby nation.
“Rugby is becoming part of our country’s identity,” added Martin.
“Working together with World Rugby, we can make Rugby World Cup 2035 a turning point in the global growth of the sport, for the benefit of generations to come.”
Seven-time participants in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Spain has hosted two European finals weekends – at Bilbao’s San Mames in 2018 and 2026 – while the 2016 Top 14 final was held at the Nou Camp in front of 99,124 supporters.
The San Mames is on a list of 14 stadiums submitted to World Rugby, which will be reduced to 9 or 10 if the Spanish bid is successful.
Spain has also staged World Rugby Sevens events, with further editions confirmed in Castile and Leon for 2027 and 2028 respectively.
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