World Rugby is set to announce the host nation for the 2035 Rugby World Cup in November 2027, with Argentina entering the race in a joint bid.
The game's governing body is currently managing the site evaluation window, conducting physical feasibility studies and inspecting proposed stadium infrastructures, with an announcement of the preferred host expected in May 2027. The final decision will be made by the World Rugby Council.
The Argentine Rugby Union issued a statement confirming that it has presented all the information required for World Rugby to analyse in preparation for the decision on the host of the 2035 World Cup.
"In the submitted bid, it was established that, if chosen as the host for RWC 2035, the four countries will host World Cup matches," the statement read.
"With a combined population of 283 million, growing economies, diverse landscapes, and experience hosting multiple international events this century - including rugby, world championships, Olympic Games, and multi-sport events - the region offers strong elements to be an attractive destination for the magnitude of the Rugby World Cup, the marquee event of our sporting scene.
"The stadiums presented are the Estadio Monumental and the Jose Amalfitani in Buenos Aires, the Diego Armando Maradona Unique Stadium in La Plata, the Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba, the Madre de Ciudades Unique Stadium in Santiago del Estero, the Padre Martearena Stadium in Salta, the Malvinas Argentina in Mendoza, and the Gigante de Arroyito Stadium in Rosario (in Argentina), the Maracana Stadium (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), the National Stadium (Santiago de Chile) and the Centenario Stadium (Montevideo, Uruguay)."
The South American nations are set to compete with 2019 Rugby World Cup hosts Japan as well as Spain and Italy. A potential joint bid involving Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar was being prepared; however, reports last year stated that a change in Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund's (PIF) financial strategy resulted in the country abandoning its plan to host the 2035 Rugby World Cup.
It has been reported that South Africa have had discussions with World Rugby over the feasibility of the tournament returning to the country that hosted the event in 1995, after SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer stated it was unlikely that they would, due to financial constraints and the governing body's shift toward high-revenue markets.
That could result in the World Cup heading to Spain, particularly after World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said that there was an appetite for the showpiece event to return to Europe after the tournament in the United States of America in 2031.
"We took some big strategic decisions a few years ago to go men's and women's in Australia and the same in the US," World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin told the publication.
"And we've now go to think about the balance and whether we bring 2035 [men's] and 2037 [women's] back to Europe. It's almost like a regional rotation. We've never had that discussion strategically in World Rugby before but that's probably the way the discussion has got to go."
However, President of Sudamerica Rugby Marcello Calandra is confident that the four South American countries are an ideal candidate to host the tournament in nine years time.
"The submission of our bid to host the Rugby World Cup demonstrates how united our region is, working together and pursuing common goals," he said in the statement.
"We are confident that we have done everything necessary to convince World Rugby and Rugby World Cup of all the positive aspects we offer as a host.
"We have the support of our national and state governments and the rugby communities of the four countries who have pushed with enormous passion. Hosting a World Cup in our region is a long-standing debt, and we are confident that we are an ideal candidate."
Felix Paez Molina, President of the Argentine Rugby Union, added: "The presentation of this candidacy represents a very important step for Argentine rugby and for the entire region.
"We have the opportunity to show the world our passion for this sport, our ability to organize major events, and everything our countries have to offer. It is a challenge we embrace with the deep conviction that our region deserves an opportunity of this magnitude.
"It is a project that excites us and that we are building together with the Unions of the region and Sudamerica Rugby, with the aspiration that, for the first time, a Rugby World Cup can be held in this part of the world."
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