Under the motto “Connect the world”, Spain presents its candidacy for the 2035 Rugby World Cup

The Royal Spanish Rugby Federation (RFER) has presented its candidacy to the World Rugby 2035 under the motto “Bridge the world” with the goal of “organizing the best in history.”

As reported this Thursday by the RFER, the candidacy, once the documentation required by world rugby to be the headquarters of the 2035 World Cup, begins its second phase.

Among the objectives are “to open a new and important market for rugby and connect this sport with the main markets of Europe, where in 2035 World Cup “It will take twelve years without being disputed (since France 2023), as well as the Spanish-speaking public around the world.”

The presiding body Juan Carlos Martín, “Hansen”, points out that “it has the support of the Government of Spain, formalized by a declaration of the Council of Ministers and led by Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports and the Higher Sports Council (CSD)”, for which he affirms that organizing the Rugby World Cup “It’s a question of State and this is how it is transmitted from the entire Spanish parliamentary arc”.

“The proposal brings together the support of the autonomous communities that in principle could house the headquarters, as is the case of Andalusia, Basque Country, Castilla y León, Catalonia, the Community of Madrid and the Valencian Community, without ruling out others who also have options,” according to the Federation, which highlights “the breadth of institutional support it has” and that of LaLiga, “one of the most successful sports associations in the world.”

After reviewing the championships and Olympic Games that has organized Spain in recent years, and that in 2030 will be one of the soccer World Cup venues, emphasizes that the World Cup 2035 “will directly benefit from the venues, transport infrastructure, security systems and volunteer management that will have been tested and perfected for said tournament.”

“It would use some of the most recognizable venues in world sport. Eight of the proposed venues have a capacity greater than the 50,000 spectators and there is the possibility of playing the first final with more than 100,000 attendees in the history of the tournament,” explains the RFER which reveals that “93 million rugby fans reside less than three hours away from Spain”.

“Connectivity is a key element of Spanish candidacy. TO international scale, Spanish airports connect the country with more than 190 destinations around the world. And within the national territory, a railway network of high speed of 4,000 km connects major cities, allowing fans to follow their teams quickly and affordably,” he says.

Bilbao has hosted two weekends at the end of European rugby clubs —the most recent edition attracted more than 90,000 fans– and Barcelona holds the record for the most attended club match in history, with 99,124 spectators in the final of the Top 14, as well as important World Rugby events, like the SVNS Grand Final in Madrid in 2024 and the SVNS World Championship in Valladolid in 2026.

The national team has qualified for the 2027 World Cup, his second participation in the men’s tournament since 1999. Currently, Spain It is one of the six countries that have their teams competing in the highest categories of world rugby, the statement says.

He president of the RFER consider that “World Rugby has consolidated this tournament as the greatest exponent of our sport and for Spain It is a great honor to present your candidacy to host it. In the last two decades, our commitment to rugby has led to extraordinary advances, and the next nine years may represent a qualitative change for this sport in Spain”.

“The culture of kindness, openness and desire to share moments with others that characterizes our country fits perfectly with the spirit that generates a Rugby World Cup”, duck “Hansen” which states: “the rugby is becoming part of the identity of our country”.