Pittsburgh eyes 2031 Rugby World Cup bid
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Pittsburgh aims to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031, but it will need to beat out 26 other cities to secure the bid.
Why it matters: Rugby isn't as mainstream here as American football, but that's not stopping U.S. cities from vying to host its global men's tournament.
Driving the news: World Rugby, the sport's international governing body, is considering 27 markets to host the men's World Cup, down from 40 earlier this year, and the Steel City made the first cut.
Zoom out: Hopeful cities also include Atlanta, Boston, Cincinnati, Miami, Orlando, Philadelphia, San Diego and others.
What they're saying: "Few cities embrace sports the way Pittsburgh does," said Jim Britt, vice president of sports events for Visit Pittsburgh.
- "From our championship history to our passionate, welcoming fans and strong hospitality community, everything about Pittsburgh aligns with the Rugby World Cup's spirit."
- Britt said he believes Acrisure Stadium and other area venues can accommodate the tournament.
State of play: World Rugby says 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.
- Friday's announcement happened at the United Rugby Summit in Chicago, where Ireland and New Zealand are set to face off.
The big picture: Rugby remains niche in the U.S. compared to baseball, football, basketball, hockey and 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.