By pulling off the feat of beating Namibia last Saturday in the final of the Africa zone qualifying tournament (30-28), Zimbabwe booked a first World Cup appearance since 1991. They may also have inspired other small nations, who dream of doing the same. There are indeed six places left to complete the field of teams qualified for world rugby’s flagship event, which has gone from 20 to 24 sides for this 2027 edition. And we could well see other minnows emerge!

Fear over Namibia

At least 11 teams can still lay claim to a place at this World Cup. There will in fact be only 10 left on Saturday evening, after the play-off between Namibia, the beaten finalists of the African tournament, and the United Arab Emirates, runners-up in the Asia zone behind Hong Kong (already qualified and set for a first World Cup appearance). Namibia, in France’s pool in 2023, could therefore, if they lose, confirm their absence in 2027, having not missed a World Cup since 1999.

The winner of that life-or-death play-off will not be out of the woods either, but will have the chance to play in the repechage tournament, from 8 to 18 November in Dubai. That was the route by which Portugal snatched the last seat for France 2023 four years ago.

Belgium’s crazy dream

In the Europe zone, Belgium, fifth in the last 6 Nations B, will also travel to Dubai to try to win that four-team tournament, the condition for seeing Australia. A dream ending for the team-mates of Toulouse’s Matias Remue, who aim to be the first generation of Belgian rugby players to take their country to a World Cup.

In South America, a direct ticket to the World Cup goes to the winner of the 2025 Sudamericano Cuatro Naciones. Its format: four teams and two semi-finals played over two legs. In the first, Chile took an option by winning in Brazil last Saturday (21-35) and will have to confirm at home on Saturday. The other semi-final pits Uruguay, the big favourites, against Paraguay (first leg 26 July, second leg 23 August).

The loser of the final, again over two legs (30 August and 6 September), will play a qualifying play-off against the bottom side in the North America – Pacific zone qualifying tournament. The nation that loses that play-off will then have one very last chance to reach the World Cup, via the Dubai repechage tournament, where they will also meet the winner of the match between the beaten semi-finalists of the South America zone.

One last ticket to be won in Dubai

Which leaves that North America – Pacific zone. Six countries split into two pools of three are fighting it out in a competition, the Pacific Nations Cup, which will run from 23 August to 20 September. Among those six are Japan and Fiji, whose places at the World Cup are already secured. As for the other four – the United States, Canada, Tonga and Samoa – they will have to make sure they do not finish last in order to be part of the party in 2027.

As written above, the bottom side in that zone will play a qualifying play-off against the loser of the South America zone final, and if that still is not enough, they could make amends in November in Dubai. The final deadline that will reveal, on the evening of 18 November, the 24th and last qualifier for the next World Cup, with the pool draw to follow straight afterwards.