Nashville Hosts USA Eagles Rugby Exhibition Matches

The USA men's and women's teams played at Geodis Park during a strategic bid to host 2031 World Cup matches.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Soccer

Nashville Hosts USA Eagles Rugby Exhibition Matches

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The USA Eagles men's and women's national rugby teams competed in international exhibition matches at Nashville's Geodis Park. These events are part of a broader effort to build momentum for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in North America.

Why it matters

Staging international rugby matches in various U.S. cities serves as a critical strategy to increase sport awareness and fan interest ahead of the 2031 World Cup. The selection of cities for the tournament remains a high-stakes process for local host candidates.

Geodis Park hosted the action with a seating capacity of over 30,100, while the candidate pool for hosting tournament matches includes 27 cities. During the events, the men's team fell to Australia 61-12 and the women's team defeated Italy 54-24.

The players

USA Eagles

These are the national rugby teams representing the United States in international competition.

World Rugby

This is the international governing body responsible for the administration of rugby union worldwide.

The details

Nashville and Cincinnati are among the 27 cities that have applied to host games for the upcoming tournament. By utilizing existing Major League Soccer stadiums like Geodis Park and TQL Stadium, these locations meet the specific venue requirements for grass fields necessary for top-tier international play.

The USA Eagles played international rugby matches in Nashville on October 24-25, 2026.
World Rugby expects to announce the cities selected for the Candidate Phase by the end of 2026.
The Rugby World Cup is scheduled to take place in North America in 2031.

Season Trajectory

The exhibition matches are directly tied to the 2031 Rugby World Cup host selection process. By demonstrating venue capability and fan engagement, host candidates are positioning themselves to secure vital tournament matches.

The matches confirm that Geodis Park is a viable venue for high-level international rugby given its capacity of over 30,100. This strengthens the city's standing as a serious contender in the ongoing competition against other candidates like Cincinnati.

The takeaway

Hosting international matches allows cities to showcase their infrastructure and fan base to global governing bodies. Residents and local officials use these events to build a compelling case for being selected as official hosts for future world-class sporting tournaments.