That means Australia will play either Hong Kong China or Chile in the opening game in Perth. The Wallabies won’t be under serious threat from either minnow, but another factor in the decision, according to informed sources, was concern that a Wallabies’ defeat in the opening game would deflate interest levels in Australia.
There was hope the Wallabies-All Blacks blockbuster could be staged at the MCG, where it could potentially draw 100,000 fans. But the MCG was not available for World Cup games given the Victorian government gave the US’s National Football League first choice of dates to use the venue in October 2027 (apart from AFL finals).
The stadiums that will be used in the 2027 World Cup.Credit: World Rugby
Given the eight games in Melbourne will be at the 56,000-seat Marvel Stadium and other options such as Suncorp Stadium (50,000 seats) and Adelaide Oval (53,000) are a similar size, the Wallabies-All Blacks game is set to be played at Accor Stadium in Sydney, according to informed sources.
The Homebush venue, which is the country’s second-biggest ground with a capacity of 82,000, will allow World Cup organisers to maximise revenue in another sold-out clash. Almost all of World Rugby’s revenue is made at World Cups, and it then spends those reserves during the next four years.
Sydney staging the Wallabies’ biggest pool match confirms it is effectively the home the 2027 World Cup. It has already been announced Accor Stadium – which hosted the 2003 World Cup final – will again host the final, along with both semi-finals, the bronze-medal game, two quarter-finals and two pool games. Allianz Stadium will also host three pool games and two round-of-16 matches.
It is unclear whether Chile or Hong Kong China will play the Wallabies in Perth.
Chile are an emerging side that beat Samoa, Uruguay and Canada last year, and at No.17, the Condors are now ranked higher than Samoa and Tonga. Chile even pushed Italy in a 15-point defeat in November – just two weeks after the Wallabies lost by seven to Italy. World No.23 Hong Kong China are in their first World Cup.
Loading
It is not unusual for the hosts to play a lesser-ranked side in the opening game. After New Zealand downed Italy in 1987, in 1991 and 1995 the defending champions played against the hosts in the opening game, but that was abandoned in 1999 when Wales played Argentina.
The Pumas then played in the opening game at the next two World Cups as well, beating France in the 2007 opener. In 2011, New Zealand played Tonga, England played Fiji in 2015 and Japan played Russia in 2019.
In 2023, France opted to play the All Blacks first up – and won – but hype levels then geared down in three remaining games against Uruguay, Namibia and Italy. The hosts then lost in the quarter-finals.
