'Dovetails nicely with Vegas': US to bid for 2030 World Cup
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USARL chairman Matt Goschnick believes that the 2030 Rugby League World Cup could be the catalyst for a professional competition in the United States.
The USARL has been announced by the IRL as one of five nations tendering for RLWC2030 and Goschnick said the 10-team men’s tournament would be staged on the West Coast.
New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Kenya are the other tenderers for RLWC2030.
The tenderers for the 2028 Women’s World Cup and 2029 Wheelchair World Cup, which will be held as separate events after RLWC2026 in Australia, have also been announced, with the USARL vying with England and France for the wheelchair tournament in 2029.
Australia to host RLWC 2026
France, Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and South Africa are the bidders for the stand-alone Women’s World Cup in 2028.
Goschnick said RLWC2030 could have a similar impact for rugby league in the United States as the 1994 FIFA World Cup did for soccer, with the Major League Soccer (MLS) established on the back of the tournament.
“We see the platform that the 1994 FIFA World Cup created for soccer in the US,” he said.
“It actually enabled them to build a legacy fund which in turn helped them to establish a professional league. A lot of that money went into setting up the MLS.
“Having the World Cup here in 2030 could do something similar for rugby league.”
With the NRL having committed to playing in Vegas until at least 2028 the profile of rugby league is set to grow significantly in the United States in coming years.
The 2025 season opener at Allegiant Stadium will be expanded to include a Super League match between Wigan and Warrington and a women’s Test between the Jillaroos and England as part of a quadruple header on March 1.
There will also be an expanded NRL 9s tournament and Talent Combine in Las Vegas, while Sydney Roosters have established a West Coast Academy and will enter a LA Roosters team in the 2025 USARL competition.
The Roosters also sponsored the inaugural USA youth team which won two matches at the recent European U19s Championships against Serbia and Ukraine.
“The World Cup in 2030 dovetails nicely with the NRL’s initial Vegas agreement,” Goschnick said.
“One of the biggest assets of the NRL coming here has been through the promotion and awareness of the game. That has had a positive impact on the local game and obviously with a World Cup there would be a lot more media attention.
“There are a lot of expat Aussies, Brits and Kiwis here who don’t even know the local game exists so even the LA Roosters announcement unearthed a few people.
“In the US, a lot of people think rugby is one sport, so we really want to try and get our identity out there and the NRL and the Roosters are helping us to do that.
“I think that is really changing the conversation and the vibe, and we want to try to get programs and structures in place for players, referees and coaches because it is just going to benefit everything in the long run.”
Goschnick said the USARL was also keen to grow wheelchair rugby league and USA Wheelchair Rugby League was building a connection with the US military.
The US made their wheelchair debut at the last World Cup in England in 2022 and earlier this year hosted a two Test series against Wales in North Carolina, where RLWC2029 would be staged.
“I think it is a real good opportunity with the military side of things,” he said. “In the US there are a lot of veterans, and it is really about trying to give them a purpose and getting them involved.
“The US has one of the largest armed forces in the world so I think it is definitely a good opportunity from an inclusivity point of view, and the people working on that bid are very passionate about adaptive sports.”
