🔗 Share this article Latin American Rugby Success Stories Drive Men's World Cup Qualification Race While many fans in the UK concentrate on their clubs' early-season performances or discuss upcoming fall test matches, the contest for World Cup 2027 qualifying continues at full pace. Chile's Remarkable Accomplishment Chile earned their back-to-back spot at the competition with a stunning qualifying win against Samoa last month, leaving one remaining spot up for grabs for Australia by 2027. At the same time, the Paraguayan side stunned Brazil by twenty points in the opening match of their qualifying series. The second leg is scheduled this Saturday in Jacareí, close to São Paulo, while Brazil's men's team attempts to emulate the women's success and secure qualification for the first time. Upcoming Qualifying Showdown Whether Paraguay manages a surprise aggregate win, or Brazil bounces back following head coach their coach's departure, the participants for November's qualifying event in Dubai will be confirmed. Namibia, Belgium, and Samoa have already secured their places for the Middle Eastern showdown from November 8th to 18th. Global Qualifying Updates Many additional nations have likewise earned their spots. The Hong Kong China team sealed first-time qualification after beating Korea 70-22 in the summer, while the Zimbabwean squad will return to the sport's most prestigious stage for the first occasion since 1991 after winning the African championship. Chile's Growing Profile The knock-on effect of Chile's qualifying triumph ensures that Los Condores will face Italy for the first time next month during the autumn internationals, taking the place of Samoa who are obligated to compete in the Dubai tournament. World Rugby's chief executive called Chile an "exciting and rapidly rising power" in announcing the upcoming fixture in Genoa. As domestic rugby promotional efforts seek increased attendance, Chilean rugby is buoyant. A sell-out audience of over 20,000 saw the playoff victory in the coastal city, and head coach the national coach has led the squad on an improving path since his appointment in recent years. Coach's Notable Legacy The 50-year-old former Uruguayan prop has been influencing the game for decades: recruited by Bristol in the 1990s, he famously ran straight through England defense to touch down at the 2003 global tournament. His influence as national coach has been similarly significant: Chile have climbed to 17th, their highest-ever position. At the last tournament in France, they were defeated four times, allowing 215 points and registering 27, including a heavy loss against the English team. Nevertheless, they proudly took the positive aspects, and following the tournament draw in Sydney on 3 December, Lemoine can begin planning in earnest. They hosted the Scottish team last year, defeated 52-11 in front of twenty-four thousand fans, and although they were beaten across both matches by the Uruguayan side in the first 2027 playoff, they managed a 21-18 win on the road in Montevideo. The Samoan Qualifying Struggle The Samoan team, meanwhile, have participated in all World Cup since 1991, but are presently languishing in 16th place in the global rankings. They were without a victory in the recent Pacific Nations Cup, leading to playoff misery against Chile, and the need to meet teams like Belgium brings further difficulty for the rugby-loving country. Competition Structural Updates Apart from specific teams' performances, it is worth noting how changed the expanded competition will appear in the next edition. For the first occasion, there will be a knockout stage with six pools of four teams rather than four pools of five. Pool-stage jeopardy is significantly reduced because the top four third-placed sides will additionally qualify. Host Nation and Rankings Implications The hosts, the Australian team, are currently placed seventh in the global rankings, which means they would fall short on a top seed and could meet either the Springboks, New Zealand, Ireland, the French, England, or the Pumas in Pool A. They could rise into the highest seeds during a packed autumn schedule, however: the English team, Italy, Ireland, and the French team are their fixtures, with a match against the Japanese team in the capital additionally planned for October 25th. Wales, meanwhile, are teetering in 12th, with Japan below, and the consequences of falling to thirteenth and into the third seeding group are potentially severe. Americas Presence and Future Tournaments Another fresh aspect for the next World Cup is the presence of five teams from the Americas: Argentina, the Uruguayan side, USA, the Canadian team, and the Chilean squad – with either Paraguay or Brazil possibly making it six. From World Rugby's viewpoint, engagement from the Americas is beneficial, especially with the 2031 World Cup scheduled to be staged by the USA, and the selection process for the 2035 edition was initiated last month. Current Focus First things first, though. The second installment of Brazil v Paraguay prepares a four-way qualifying contest, along with a possible rankings shake-up across Europe in the coming month. Regardless of how things pan out, Chile's qualification for a second Rugby World Cup has already made them as a resounding triumphant example.