🔗 Share this article South American Rugby Union Success Stories Fuel Men's Global Tournament Qualifying Race As numerous fans in the UK focus on their clubs' season-opening performances or debate upcoming fall test matches, the battle for World Cup 2027 qualifying rages on at full pace. Chile's Historic Achievement Chile earned their back-to-back spot at the competition with a sensational playoff victory over Samoa last month, leaving a single remaining spot to be claimed for the host nation in two years. Meanwhile, the Paraguayan side stunned Brazil by twenty points in the opening match of their qualifying series. The return match is scheduled on Saturday in the Brazilian city, close to São Paulo, as Brazil's squad aims to emulate the women's achievement and secure qualification for the first time. Forthcoming Qualification Clash Regardless of Paraguay manages a shock overall win, or Brazil bounces back after head coach their coach's recent dismissal, the participants for next month's qualifying event in Dubai will be confirmed. The Namibian team, the Belgian squad, and Samoa have already secured spots for the Middle Eastern showdown from 8-18 November. Worldwide Qualifying Updates Several other teams have also secured their places. The Hong Kong China team achieved maiden World Cup entry after defeating Korea by a large margin in the summer, and the Zimbabwean squad will make a comeback to the sport's most prestigious stage for the first time in over three decades by virtue of winning the Rugby Africa Cup. Chile's Growing Profile The knock-on effect of Chile's qualifying triumph means that Los Condores will play against Italy for the first time in November during the autumn internationals, taking the place of Samoa who must compete in the Dubai tournament. World Rugby's CEO called Chile an "exciting and fast-emerging power" in announcing the forthcoming match in the Italian city. While domestic the sport promotional efforts seek larger crowds, rugby in Chile is buoyant. A capacity crowd of more than twenty thousand witnessed the qualifying win in Viña del Mar, and head coach Pablo Lemoine has guided the squad on an improving path since his appointment in 2018. Manager's Notable Career The 50-year-old former Uruguayan prop has been influencing the game for decades: recruited by the English club in the 1990s, he memorably ran straight through the English defense to touch down at the 2003 Rugby World Cup. His influence as national coach has been similarly significant: Chile have risen to seventeenth place, their best ranking. At the previous World Cup in France, they were defeated four times, allowing 215 points and scoring twenty-seven, including a 71-0 defeat to England. Nevertheless, they confidently took the positive aspects, and after the 2027 draw in Australia on 3 December, the coach can start preparations in earnest. They hosted Scotland previously, defeated by a significant margin before 24,000 fans, and while they were beaten across two legs by the Uruguayan side in the first qualifying round, they managed a 21-18 win on the road in the Uruguayan capital. The Samoan Qualification Struggle The Samoan team, meanwhile, have participated in all World Cup for decades, but are currently sitting in sixteenth position in the men's rankings. They were winless in the recent regional tournament, resulting in playoff misery against Chile, and the requirement to face teams like Belgium adds further challenge for the proud rugby nation. Tournament Format Changes Apart from specific teams' fortunes, it is important to consider how different the larger tournament will appear in 2027. For the first time, there will be a knockout stage with six pools of four instead of four groups of five teams. Group phase risk is significantly reduced because the four best third-place teams will additionally advance. Hosts and Rankings Implications The organizers, Australia, are currently placed seventh in the world, meaning they would miss out on a top seed and might face either the Springboks, New Zealand, Ireland, France, England, or Argentina in Pool A. They may climb into the top six during a busy November, though: England, Italy, the Irish squad, and the French team are their fixtures, with a match versus Japan in the capital also scheduled for 25 October. The Welsh team, meanwhile, are balanced in twelfth place, with the Japanese side behind, and the implications of dropping to 13th and into the third seeding group are possibly significant. Americas Representation and Future Events Another new dimension for 2027 is the presence of five nations from the Americas: Argentina, the Uruguayan side, USA, the Canadian team, and Chile – with either Paraguay or Brazil possibly becoming the sixth. From the governing body's viewpoint, engagement from the Americas is positive, especially with the 2031 tournament set to be hosted by the United States, and the selection process for the 2035 tournament was initiated last month. Immediate Priority First things first, however. The return match of Brazil versus Paraguay prepares a four-way qualifying contest, combined with a possible rankings shake-up across the European nations in November. No matter the outcome, Chile's qualification for a second Rugby World Cup has already made them as a clear triumphant example.