Kansas City has officially submitted its bid to host matches of the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup, city officials confirmed, putting GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium forward as the primary venue and CPKC Stadium as a backup site. World Rugby is expected to narrow the applicant list in late 2026.
Kansas City's bid effort, previewed in a KCTV video, puts two Kansas City stadiums before World Rugby to consider as it weighs which American cities will host matches when the tournament arrives.
City Council laid the financial groundwork back in July, when Mayor Quinton Lucas sponsored Ordinance 260663. The measure authorized the City Manager to execute bid proposals for the tournament and directed municipal departments to build funding for police, fire, EMS, traffic, and airport services into the city's 2028–2030 annual budgets, per the Center for Neighborhoods - KC.
Arrowhead Stadium and the Bid
The Chiefs' lease at Arrowhead Stadium expires in January 2031, according to KCTV.
That timing could matter a great deal, because the field of competitors is crowded. World Rugby confirmed last October that 27 North American cities and regions, representing 33 venues, submitted signed letters of intent to enter the Applicant Phase, according to the Kansas City Sports Commission.
Arizona and Glendale have also entered the race, with Glendale eyeing State Farm Stadium for matches, while Houston and Cincinnati have both floated active bids of their own.
A Multi-Year Evaluation Process
World Rugby is conducting a 14-month venue assessment, with the applicant list expected to be narrowed in late 2026. Final host cities won't be selected until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia wraps up.
The stakes are considerable. The 2031 tournament will mark the first time the Men's Rugby World Cup has been hosted anywhere in the Americas.
Economic Upside, If It Materializes
USA Rugby has projected that up to 4.1 million fans could attend World Cup events nationwide. World Rugby has also pointed to the financial upside seen in France, where the 2023 Men's Rugby World Cup generated €1.8 billion in total visitor spending and €871 million in net economic input while supporting more than 5,200 jobs.
The rugby push is also only half of the city's international sports ambitions this cycle. In July, Kansas City civic leadership launched a dual-bid strategy to pursue hosting duties for both the 2031 Men's Rugby World Cup and the 2031 FIFA Women's World Cup, aiming to host both global tournaments in the same year.
