- Samoa booked their ticket for the 2027 World Cup, obtaining a draw against Belgium (13-13), in Dubai, Tuesday November 18.
- The names of the 24 countries, including France, which will travel to Australia are now known.
A little less than two years before the start of the competition, all the selections qualified for the 2027 World Cup are known. The last ticket goes to Samoa who obtained the draw against Belgium (13-13) at the end of a closed and tense match, this Tuesday, November 18.
After a messy first act dominated by the pragmatic Belgians (6-3), Samoa made the difference in the last twenty minutes, notably thanks to a try from Abraham Papali’i. The Belgians believed in it until the last moments, coming back to score thanks to a try from Jean Maurice Decubber. But this draw was enough for the happiness of the Islanders, who won the last intercontinental qualifying tournament, in Dubai, thanks to the offensive bonus point gleaned against Namibia (12 points to 11, in the ranking). The players from the Pacific therefore pocket the precious sesame, to the great dismay of the Belgians, who will not play in the first World Cup in their history.
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As a reminder, the 2027 World Cup, which will be played in Australia from October 1 to November 13, 2027, will be the first edition in history with 24 countries. During the draw scheduled for December 3, six groups of four teams will be formed. The two best teams from each group as well as the four best third-place teams will qualify for the round of 16.
Here are the 24 selections which will participate in this competition:
Qualified thanks to the 2023 World Cup:
- South Africa: 9th participation, winner in 2023
- England: 11th participation, 3rd in 2023
- Argentine : 11ᵉ participation, 4ᵉ en 2023
- Australia: 11th participation, group stage in 2023
- Scotland: 11th participation, group stage in 2023
- Fiji : 10ᵉ participation, quarters of end in
- France : 11ᵉ participation, quarters of end in
- Ireland: 11ᵉ participation, quarters of end in
- Italy : 11th participation, group stage in 2023
- Japan: 11th participation, group stage in 2023
- New Zealand: 11ᵉ participation, 2ᵉ en 2023
- Wales: 11ᵉ participation, quarters of end in
Qualified at the end of the Qualifiers:
- Canada : 10ᵉ participation, absent en 2023
- Chili : 2nd participation, group stage in 2023
- Spain: 2nd participation, absent in 2023
- UNITED STATES : 9th participation, absent in 2023
- Georgia: 7th participation, group stage in 2023
- Hong Kong China : 1re participation
- Portugal : 3rd participation, group stage in 2023
- Romania: 10th participation, group stage in 2023
- Samoa : 10th participation, group stage in 2023
- Tonga : 10th participation, group stage in 2023
- Uruguay : 6th participation, group stage in 2023
- Zimbabwe : 3rd participation, absent in 2023
