Joe Biden offers support for USA World Cup Bid

President Joe Biden has officially declared his support for the USA’s Rugby World Cup Bid. Final documents have now been submitted to World Rugby with USAR seeking to host both the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s events. World Rugby Council will formally determine the hosting rights on May 12.

The Bid notably has identified 24 cities as potential hosting sites for matches at either or both of the events. Initially a list of 29 names, those indicated below have all submitted a Memorandum of Understanding to the World Cup Bid.

Atlanta, Georgia
Austin, Texas
Baltimore, Maryland
Birmingham, Alabama
Boston, Massachusetts
Charlotte, North Carolina
Chicago, Illinois
Dallas, Texas
Denver, Colorado
Houston, Texas
Kansas City, Missouri
Los Angeles, California
Miami, Florida
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nashville, Tennessee
New York City, New York
Orlando, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
San Diego, California
San Francisco, Seattle
Seattle, Washington
Washington, DC

Previously included but now falling off the list are Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Vancouver (BC). Of the 13 cities with Major League Rugby teams, 10 are represented with Toronto and Salt Lake City also left out, though the Bid group does note that the door is not closed.

The content of President Biden’s letter in its entirety can be read below:

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Dear Sir Beaumont:

The United States strongly supports the effort to bring the 2031 Men’s Rugby World Cup Tournament and the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup Tournament (“Tournaments”) to our country, and looks forward to working with Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) to make them the most successful Rugby World Cup Tournaments in history.

We also very much welcome and support the presence of RWCL and its member associations, as well as visitors from around the world, in the United States in connection with the Tournaments, and will strongly support RWCL in connection with the staging and hosting of these events.

Because hosting a successful Rugby World Cup is important for the continued growth of the sport, the United States will support efforts associated with the Tournaments to promote the development of rugby in the United States and worldwide in a sustainable and humanitarian manner, without any discrimination whatsoever, regardless of nationality, race, or creed. We will also work with the local organizing committee to ensure that any adverse impacts on the environment as a result of the Tournaments are minimized.

I am aware that RWCL has asked for certain governmental guarantees with respect to the Tournaments. Please be assured that any guarantees issued by the United States Government in relation to the Tournaments will be executed by officials who have the competence and authority to validly execute such guarantees. In the event that certain guarantees fall within the domain of State and local governments under our political system or within the private sector, the United States Government will cooperate with those entities.

Subject to any terms and conditions delineated in the governmental guarantees, the United States will fulfill its obligations in connection with the Tournaments, and will honor the foregoing and any other guarantees it makes. In addition, if the United States is selected by RWCL to be the host nation for the Rugby World Cup Tournaments in 2031 or 2033, we will seek the enactment of legislation necessary to organize and stage the Tournaments.

Once again, on behalf of the people of the United States of America, I am pleased to offer my wholehearted support of this bid to host the Rugby World Cup Tournaments in 2031 and 2033.

Sincerely
Joe Biden