Spain bids for Rugby World Cup with Nou Camp final

Barcelona's Nou Camp, Madrid's Bernabeu and the Mestalla in Valencia are all on a list of possible venues as Spain bids to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035. Work to increase the capicity of the Nou Camp stadium began in June 2023 and is expected to be completed in early 2028 Barcelona's Nou Camp, Real Madrid's Bernabeu and the Mestalla in Valencia are all on a list of possible stadiums as Spain bids to host the Rugby World Cup in 2035. The Spanish Rugby Federation says it aims to deliver the "best World Cup in history", connecting the tournament to 700 million Spanish speakers worldwide. If Spain's bid is successful, the revamped Nou Camp is in line to host the final, which would be the first time the World Cup showpiece has been held in front of more than 100,000 fans.

Argentina and Japan are also bidding to host the tournament, with World Rugby expected to announce its preferred bidder in the spring or summer of 2027. Spanish rugby authorities say the tournament in 2035 would capitalise on the Fifa World Cup in 2030, with Spain joint hosts along with Morocco and Portugal. The Rugby World Cup bid has the support of the Spanish government as well as La Liga, with some of the most iconic stadiums in world