Denver Makes Its Case to Host 2031 Rugby World Cup

America's rugby heartland is ready to step onto the world stage.

Denver is making a strong push to become a host city for the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup, the first time the tournament will be held in the United States. Saturday's Fourth of July match between the USA Eagles and Portugal at Dick's Sporting Goods Park gives the Mile High City another chance to showcase why it's earned the nickname "Rugbytown USA."

The numbers tell a compelling story. The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France generated nearly $2 billion in total spending, and eight to ten American cities are expected to be selected as hosts when World Rugby announces its decision in fall 2027.

Denver's rugby credentials run deep. The city of Glendale built Infinity Park, the first rugby-specific stadium in America, and hosts the Denver Onyx, the reigning champions of Women's Elite Rugby. Local college teams are thriving too, with Colorado Mesa winning the Division II national championship and Mines taking the Division III title this spring.

"There's just so much great rugby out here and good competitions," said USA team captain Jason Damm, who played professionally in Vail and for the Glendale Raptors. His roots in Colorado mirror the sport's growth across the state.

The Ripple Effect

Denver's rugby revolution goes beyond professional teams. Youth programs are expanding rapidly, club participation is surging, and local high schools are producing national team talent like Castle View's Kaleb Geiger and Denver East's Sam Golla.

That grassroots energy matters when World Rugby evaluates potential hosts. In March 2025, the Denver Sports Commission hosted World Rugby delegates as part of the formal bid process. Twenty-seven cities initially applied, and the field will narrow to formal candidates by the end of this year.

If selected, Empower Field would host matches while Dick's Sporting Goods Park and Infinity Park would serve as training venues. For players like Golla, the possibility of competing in a World Cup on home soil feels almost unreal. "Potentially having a game in my home state in the World Cup representing my country, that would be amazing," he said.

The Eagles have work to do before then. They didn't qualify for the 2023 World Cup and have never advanced past the pool stage in tournament history. But Saturday's match, followed by games against Zimbabwe and Spain later this month, gives the team momentum heading into the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

For Denver, every match is more than just a game—it's a chance to show the world that American rugby has arrived.