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The United States just won a World Cup bid — for rugby.
On Thursday, the World Rugby Council announced it voted unanimously to give the U.S. bids for the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2033.
The U.S. will be the first-ever host nation for the events from either North or South America.
- The total cost of hosting both events could total $500 million.
- More than two dozen cities are vying to host matches in either or both of the tournaments, including Atlanta, Boston, New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New York.
- More than 4 million fans are expected to attend the two World Cups.
Growing the Sport
In the buildup to the tournaments, the global rugby community hopes to significantly boost the popularity of the sport.
The plan includes growing youth participation, diversity, and USA Rugby membership.
USA Rugby wants to create “lasting, sustainable enthusiasm, and passion for rugby from coast to coast,” USA Rugby CEO Ross Young said in a statement. The organization hopes that membership will increase four-fold by the men’s World Cup.
