Uruguay have secured their place at the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia after edging Chile 46-35 on aggregate in a tense two-legged Sudamericano 2025 final. The result ensures that Los Teros will compete in their sixth Rugby World Cup, joining regional giants Argentina as South America’s second representative at the expanded 24-team tournament.

The tie opened in Santiago, where Uruguay built a crucial 28-16 lead in the first leg, setting a firm foundation for the return fixture in Montevideo. Chile pushed hard in the second leg, claiming a narrow 21-18 win, but the deficit from the first match proved too steep to overturn. With a combined 46-35 scoreline, Uruguay’s consistency and defensive discipline carried them through, delighting home supporters and confirming their standing as the continent’s next strongest side after Argentina.

This qualification means Uruguay are the 20th team officially locked in for the World Cup, which will run from 1 October to 13 November 2027. Ranked 16th globally, Los Teros now await the tournament draw in December 2025 to discover their pool-stage opponents. Meanwhile, Chile’s campaign is not over, they will face the bottom team from the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, which could be Canada, Samoa, or the USA, in a two-legged play-off later in September, keeping their World Cup hopes alive.

For Uruguay, the achievement signals another chapter in their rise as a competitive force in international rugby, while Chile will look to regroup and seize their second chance at qualification in what promises to be a fiercely contested play-off.