Up to 10 National Football League (NFL) and Major League Soccer (MLS) stadiums will host Rugby League World Cup matches if the US wins its bid to stage the 2021 tournament.
Last month, sports marketing firm Moore Sports International (MSI)
revealed its intention to bid on behalf of the US, and has now put forward the commitment that all 32 men’s matches will be hosted at NFL and MLS stadiums “across eight to 10 major markets”.
If the bid is successful, MSI will send out a Request for Proposals for potential host cities and stadiums.
Jason Moore, chief executive of MSI, said there was a “strong interest of potential host cities, stadiums, sponsors and other local stakeholders across the US”.
The move opens up the possibility for matches to be staged in new arenas being built for NFL and MLS teams.
New stadiums due to be ready by 2021 include the HKS-designed stadium for the Los Angeles Rams and Atlanta Falcon’s Mercedes Benz stadium, being designed by HOK.
The bid has also been boosted after it received official backing from USA Rugby League (USARL).
“USARL supports the US bid to host the men’s and women’s 2021 Rugby League World Cup and looks forward to the challenge of preparing our USA Hawks to take the pitch as host nation if called upon,” said USARL chair Peter Illfield, who added that he “welcomed” the involvement of MSI.
The Rugby League International Federation (RLIF) will make a decision about the bid in November. England is the only other nation to put a concrete bid forward, but if the US wins it will be the first time the tournament is staged outside Europe or the Oceania.
