Philly wants to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031

Driving the news: Philly is among the 27 markets that World Rugby, the sport's international governing body, is considering to host the men's World Cup (a list narrowed down from 40 earlier this year).

• World Rugby met with interested hosts in July 2024, followed by detailed site visits with each, World Rugby spokesperson Dominic Rumbles tells Axios.
• Ultimately, 13-15 host cities will be announced in late 2027.

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 plan for growth in the U.S., 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.

Zoom out: Rugby remains niche in the U.S. compared to Major League baseball, football, basketball and now soccer.

• Michael Earmark, president of Roc Nation International, told the BBC in January that rugby needs to lean into its star power to become commercially viable in the U.S. — just like Major League Soccer did with superstar Lionel Messi.

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.