During the draw, each group will receive one team from each pot, with the sole exception of Australia. The 2027 Rugby World Cup will mark a historic transformation for men's rugby, as for the first time, the tournament will feature 24 teams, abandoning the 20-team format that was in place until France 2023. The initial phase will consist of six groups of four, from which the top two from each group plus the four best third-placed teams will advance, expanding the chances for more nations to reach the decisive rounds. Buenos Aires, November 27 (NA) — World Rugby has confirmed the pot composition for the 2027 Rugby World Cup for the draw on December 3, in which Los Pumas will be seeded. According to the Argentine News Agency, the global rugby organization used the updated ranking to determine the six teams in Pot 1: New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, France, England, and Argentina. Pot 2 was formed by Scotland, Fiji, Italy, Georgia, Wales, and Australia, although the Wallabies already have a secured spot in Group A as hosts and will play the opening match on October 1, 2027. Pot 3 will include Japan, Spain, Uruguay, Chile, Tonga, and the United States, while Pot 4 will include Portugal, Romania, Hong Kong China, Canada, Zimbabwe, and Samoa. Additionally, the tournament's first-ever quarterfinals will be played, with matchups determined by each group's performance. With the new system, the Rugby World Cup 2027 will feature 52 matches, four more than the previous edition. The matches will be held in seven iconic Australian cities: Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Newcastle, Perth, Sydney, and Townsville. Expectations for the draw are growing daily, especially in Argentina, where the team led by Felipe Contepomi will seek to leverage their seeded status to establish themselves as one of the contenders in the first World Cup with an expanded format.
