Charlotte among 27 cities courting 2031 Rugby World Cup
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Viliami Helu (left) of USA Men's Eagles during the USA Rugby match series at American Legion Memorial Stadium in July 2025. Photo: Grant Halverson/Getty Images
Charlotte has officially submitted a bid to be a host city for the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Why it matters: This is the latest high-profile sporting event that organizers, including Charlotte Sports Foundation and Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), hope to bring to the region. Bank of America Stadium would be the venue.
- TSE, which plans to complete Bank of America Stadium renovations in 2030, also hopes to bring the FIFA Women's World Cup to Charlotte in 2031.
Driving the news: World Rugby, the sport's international governing body, has narrowed its field of teams under consideration to host the men's World Cup to 27 markets, down from 40 earlier this year.
- World Rugby leaders announced the contenders Friday at the United Rugby Summit in Chicago, where Ireland and New Zealand are set to face off in a sold-out test match at night.
Zoom in: Other hopeful cities and regions include Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, the Bay Area, Birmingham, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Denver, Houston, Kansas City, the Los Angeles region, Miami, Minneapolis, Nashville, New Orleans, New York/New Jersey, Orlando, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Diego, Seattle, St. Louis, Vancouver and Washington, D.C.
- The tournament will take place in September and October 2031.
What they're saying: Alan Gilpin, World Rugby's chief executive, said the 2031 tournament stands to "cement the U.S.'s status as a major player in global rugby" and "inspire and unite new fans, audiences and commercial partners for the sport."
- World Rugby officials say the application process is part of its U.S. growth plan, where it hopes to build audiences in "key rugby hubs."
Context: World Rugby held several international matches across the U.S. over the summer to test America's appetite for the sport, including in Charlotte.
- Two matches were held at American Legion Memorial Stadium, which featured the USA Eagles in Charlotte for the first time. They drew roughly 8,000 fans across both matches.
- World Rugby met with interested hosts in July 2024. That was followed by detailed site visits with each, World Rugby chief communications officer Dominic Rumbles tells Axios.
What's next: World Rugby and USA Rugby (the sport's national governing body) plan to evaluate applicants' venues, feasibility and ability to meet hosting requirements over the next 14 months.
- Ultimately, 13-15 host cities will be announced in late 2027.
What we're watching: Major League Rugby, the nation's top league, is still trying to find its footing.
- NOLA Gold and the Miami Sharks announced they won't participate in the 2026 season.
- Meanwhile, the league is still adding teams.
Yes, but: Interest in the sport is rising, as record crowds continue to gather for games across the U.S.
Zoom in: Anthem Rugby Carolina plays in Major League Rugby, the nation's top league, and calls Charlotte home. It serves as a developmental team for the USA Eagles as they push for World Cup qualification.
The bottom line: Hosting major sporting events is an economic boon for host cities, something Charlotte is familiar with — from recently hosting the PGA Championship to preparing to host the MLS All-Star Game this coming summer.