🔗 Share this article

While numerous fans in the UK focus on club early-season fortunes or debate upcoming fall test matches, the contest for World Cup 2027 qualification continues unabated.

Chile's Remarkable Achievement

Chile secured their second consecutive appearance at the competition with a sensational qualifying win against Samoa last month, leaving one remaining spot up for grabs for Australia by 2027. Meanwhile, the Paraguayan side stunned Brazil by twenty points in the first leg of their qualifying series.

The second leg is scheduled this Saturday in Jacareí, close to São Paulo, as Brazil's squad aims to emulate their women's achievement and secure qualification for the first occasion.

Upcoming Qualifying Showdown

Whether Paraguay manages a surprise aggregate victory, or Brazil recovers following manager their coach's recent dismissal, the lineup for next month's Dubai qualification tournament will be confirmed. The Namibian team, Belgium, and the Samoan side are already confirmed spots for the Middle Eastern competition from 8-18 November.

Global Qualification Developments

Several additional nations have likewise secured their places. The Hong Kong China team sealed maiden World Cup entry after beating Korea 70-22 in the summer, while the Zimbabwean squad will make a comeback to rugby union's most prestigious stage for the first occasion in over three decades after claiming victory in the Rugby Africa Cup.

Chile's Growing Reputation

The consequence of Chile's qualifying triumph ensures that Los Condores will play against Italy for the first time next month during the autumn internationals, replacing Samoa who must compete in Dubai.

World Rugby's chief executive described Chile an "thrilling and rapidly rising power" in confirming the forthcoming match in Genoa. While local the sport markets aim for larger crowds, Chilean rugby is thriving. A sell-out audience of over 20,000 saw the playoff victory in Viña del Mar, and head coach Pablo Lemoine has led the squad on an improving path since taking over in recent years.

Coach's Notable Legacy

The 50-year-old former Uruguayan forward has been influencing the game for decades: recruited by Bristol in the late 90s, he memorably ran straight through the English defensive line to touch down at the 2003 global tournament.

His impact as head coach has been similarly significant: Chile have climbed to 17th, their highest-ever position. At the previous tournament in Europe, they were beaten four times, allowing over two hundred points and registering twenty-seven, including a 71-0 loss against the English team.

However, they proudly found the positives, and after the 2027 draw in Australia on December 3rd, Lemoine can begin planning seriously. They hosted the Scottish team previously, defeated by a significant margin in front of 24,000 supporters, and while they were beaten across both matches by the Uruguayan side in the initial qualifying round, they managed a 21-18 win on the road in the Uruguayan capital.

Samoa's Qualifying Struggle

Samoa, meanwhile, have not missed every Rugby World Cup for decades, but are currently sitting in sixteenth place in the global rankings. They were winless in the recent regional tournament, leading to qualifying disappointment against Chile, and the need to meet nations such as Belgium brings additional difficulty for the rugby-loving country.

Competition Structural Updates

Beyond individual nations' performances, it is important to consider how changed the larger tournament will look in 2027. For the first time, there will be a knockout stage with six groups of four teams rather than four groups of five. Pool-stage jeopardy is much lower because the four best third-place sides will also advance.

Hosts and Standings Implications

The organizers, the Australian team, are currently ranked seventh in the world, meaning they would miss out on top seeding and could face one of the Springboks, New Zealand, Ireland, the French, England, or the Pumas in Pool A. They could climb into the top six during a busy November, though: England, Italy, Ireland, and the French team are their fixtures, with a match against Japan in Tokyo additionally scheduled for October 25th.

The Welsh team, meanwhile, are balanced in twelfth place, with the Japanese side below, and the consequences of falling to thirteenth and into the third seeding group are possibly severe.

American Representation and Upcoming Events

An additional fresh aspect for the next World Cup is the participation of five nations from the American continent: Argentina, the Uruguayan side, USA, the Canadian team, and Chile – with either Paraguay or Brazil potentially becoming the sixth. From World Rugby's viewpoint, engagement from the Americas is positive, especially with the 2031 World Cup scheduled to be hosted by the United States, and the host selection for the 2035 tournament was initiated last month.

Current Focus

First things first, however. The second installment of Brazil versus Paraguay sets up a four-way qualifying contest, combined with a potential standings change throughout Europe in the coming month. No matter how things pan out, Chile's successful qualification for a second Rugby World Cup has already made them as a resounding success story.