Spain Bids to Host 2035 Rugby World Cup With Nou Camp Final Proposal

Spain Bids to Host the 2035 Rugby World Cup With Nou Camp Final

Spain has formally launched a bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035, putting forward a stadium list that features Barcelona’s Nou Camp, Real Madrid’s Bernabeu, and Valencia’s Mestalla, [bbc.com] reported. If the bid succeeds, the revamped Nou Camp is slated to host the tournament final, which would mark the first time a Rugby World Cup showpiece is played in front of more than 100,000 spectators.

Submit and Narrow Venue List for Hosting

The Spanish Rugby Federation submitted a list of 14 potential venues to World Rugby, which includes Bilbao’s San Mames. That list will eventually be narrowed down to nine or 10 stadiums if the nation’s bid is successful.

Juan Carlos Martin ‘Hansen’, executive president of the Spanish federation, expressed confidence in the country’s hosting capabilities.

“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,” Martin said, according to [bbc.com].

Spanish rugby authorities plan to capitalize on the momentum of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which Spain is co-hosting alongside Morocco and Portugal. The bid also carries backing from the Spanish government and La Liga.

Historical Context and Domestic Growth

Spain’s rugby ambitions build on previous major event hosting experience. The country has staged two European club finals weekends—at Bilbao’s San Mames in 2018 and 2026—and hosted the 2016 Top 14 final at the Nou Camp before an attendance of 99,124 people, [bbc.com] reported. Spain has hosted World Rugby Sevens events, with further editions locked in for Castile and Leon in 2027 and 2028.

On the international playing front, the Spanish men’s team has qualified for the 2027 tournament in Australia, marking their first appearance at a men’s World Cup since 1999. Domestically, the federation aims to triple the number of rugby participants in the country by 2035 and establish Spain as a Tier One rugby nation.

“Rugby is becoming part of our country’s identity,” Martin added, as reported by [bbc.com]. “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.”

Competitor Bids and Selection Timeline

Spain faces competition from Argentina and Japan, both of which are also bidding to host the 2035 tournament. World Rugby is expected to announce its preferred bidder in the spring or summer of 2027, according to [bbc.com].