Spain has formally submitted its candidacy to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup, positioning Barcelona's Nou Camp and Real Madrid's Bernabeu as potential venues for the tournament final.
The bid leverages existing infrastructure and facilities from the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain will co-host alongside Morocco and Portugal. According to ESPN, Spain submitted its detailed applicant questionnaire to World Rugby in October 2026, with the bid backed by LaLiga.
Beyond the two flagship Madrid and Barcelona grounds, the Spanish Rugby Federation (RFER) has identified Atletico Madrid's Metropolitano Stadium and Valencia's Mestalla as additional potential match venues. A total of 14 stadiums have been submitted to World Rugby, which will be reduced to nine or ten if Spain's bid succeeds.
The bid carries the slogan "Bridge the World," with an ambition to reach 700 million Spanish-speaking people worldwide. Eight of the 14 proposed stadiums have capacities exceeding 50,000, underlining Spain's substantial infrastructure advantage.
Juan Carlos Martin 'Hansen', executive president of the Spanish Rugby Federation, outlined the federation's vision in a statement:
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.
He added:
World Rugby has established this tournament as the pinnacle of our sport, and it is a great honour for Spain to bid to host it. Over the past two decades, our commitment to rugby has led to extraordinary progress, and the next nine years could mark a step change for the sport across Spain.
The warmth, openness and desire to share moments with others that characterise our country fit perfectly with the spirit that a Rugby World Cup creates. Rugby is becoming part of our country's identity. 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.
Government backing and regional support
The Spanish government and six autonomous communities have thrown their weight behind the bid: Andalusia, the Basque Country, Castile and León, Catalonia, Madrid and Valencia. This broad coalition demonstrates nationwide commitment to the tournament.
Spain has already demonstrated its rugby hosting credentials. The country staged World Rugby Sevens events, with further editions scheduled in Castile and León in 2027 and 2028. Additionally, Spain has hosted two European finals weekends at Bilbao's San Mames in 2018 and 2026, while the 2016 Top 14 final drew 99,124 spectators to the Nou Camp—a venue that will hold over 100,000 following its revamped expansion.
Building momentum through elite rugby events
Spain is pursuing an aggressive strategy to elevate rugby's profile domestically by bidding to host the Champions and Challenge Cup finals in Madrid in 2029, followed by the Top 14 final in Barcelona in 2030. These events would provide a stepping stone toward the World Cup and help establish Spain as a major rugby destination.
The timing aligns with Spain's own rugby development. The nation has qualified for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, marking their first appearance at a men's World Cup since 1999—a significant milestone that demonstrates the sport's growing foothold in the country.
Competing bids and the selection timeline
Spain faces competition from Argentina and Japan, both of which have also submitted bids for 2035. The South American bid is led by Argentina and includes Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, creating a formidable regional coalition.
The selection process will unfold over the coming months. According to BBC Sport, site visits and feasibility assessments are scheduled to begin in December 2026, with World Rugby expected to identify a preferred host in May 2027 and formally appoint the host in November 2027.
The 2031 Rugby World Cup will be held in the United States for the first time, meaning the 2035 tournament will be the next opportunity for a new host nation to join rugby's elite group of World Cup venues.
