🔗 Share this article

As many fans in the UK focus on club early-season performances or discuss upcoming fall test matches, the contest for World Cup 2027 qualifying continues at full pace.

Chile's Historic Achievement

Chile secured their back-to-back appearance at the tournament with a stunning qualifying win against Samoa last month, leaving one remaining spot up for grabs for Australia by 2027. Meanwhile, the Paraguayan side surprised Brazil by twenty points in the opening match of their qualifying series.

The return match takes place this Saturday in Jacareí, close to São Paulo, as Brazil's men's team aims to follow their women's success and secure qualification for the first time.

Upcoming Qualifying Showdown

Whether Paraguay completes a shock overall win, or Brazil bounces back after head coach their coach's recent dismissal, the lineup for next month's Dubai qualification tournament will be confirmed. The Namibian team, Belgium, and Samoa are already confirmed their places for the Middle Eastern competition from 8-18 November.

Worldwide Qualifying Developments

Many other teams have also secured their places. Hong Kong China achieved first-time qualification after beating Korea by a large margin in July, and Zimbabwe will return to rugby union's most prestigious stage for the first occasion since 1991 after winning the African championship.

Chile's Rising Profile

The knock-on effect of Chile's playoff success ensures that Los Condores will play against Italy for the first occasion in November during the fall test series, taking the place of Samoa who must participate in Dubai.

World Rugby's CEO described Chile an "exciting and fast-emerging force" in confirming the upcoming match in the Italian city. While domestic rugby markets aim for increased attendance, Chilean rugby is thriving. A sell-out audience of more than twenty thousand witnessed the playoff victory in Viña del Mar, and head coach the national coach has guided the squad on an improving path since his appointment in 2018.

Coach's Impressive Career

The fifty-year-old former Uruguay international forward has been making an impact for decades: recruited by the English club in the 1990s, he famously broke through the English defensive line to touch down at the 2003 global tournament.

His impact as head coach has been equally significant: Chile have climbed to seventeenth place, their best position. At the previous tournament in France, they were defeated in all matches, allowing 215 points and scoring 27, featuring a heavy defeat to England.

Nevertheless, they confidently found the positive aspects, and after the tournament draw in Sydney on December 3rd, Lemoine can start preparations in earnest. They hosted the Scottish team previously, losing by a significant margin in front of 24,000 fans, and while they were defeated across both matches by Uruguay in the initial 2027 playoff, they achieved a 21-18 away victory in Montevideo.

The Samoan Qualifying Challenge

The Samoan team, meanwhile, have participated in all World Cup for decades, but are presently sitting in sixteenth place in the men's rankings. They were winless in this year's regional tournament, resulting in playoff misery versus Chile, and the requirement to meet nations such as Belgium adds additional challenge for the rugby-loving country.

Competition Structural Updates

Apart from individual nations' fortunes, it is important to consider how different the expanded tournament will appear in 2027. For the first occasion, there will be a round of 16 with six groups of four teams rather than four groups of five teams. Pool-stage risk is significantly reduced because the four best third-placed sides will also advance.

Hosts and Standings Consequences

The hosts, Australia, are now placed seventh in the world, meaning they would miss out on top seeding and could meet one of the Springboks, the All Blacks, the Irish, the French, England, or Argentina in Pool A. They could climb into the highest seeds during a busy November, though: the English team, Italy, the Irish squad, and France are their fixtures, with a match against Japan in Tokyo additionally scheduled for October 25th.

The Welsh team, meanwhile, are balanced in 12th, with the Japanese side behind, and the implications of falling to 13th and into pot three are potentially severe.

American Representation and Future Tournaments

An additional fresh aspect for 2027 is the presence of five teams from the American continent: Argentina, the Uruguayan side, the United States, the Canadian team, and the Chilean squad – with either Paraguay or Brazil potentially becoming the sixth. From the governing body's perspective, American interest is positive, particularly with the 2031 World Cup set to be hosted by the USA, and the selection process for the 2035 edition was initiated last month.

Immediate Priority

First things first, however. The second installment of Brazil v Paraguay prepares a four-way qualifying contest, along with a possible rankings shake-up throughout the European nations in November. No matter the outcome, Chile's successful qualification for a second consecutive World Cup has undoubtedly established them as a resounding success story.