World Rugby Nations Cup coming to Commerce City for 4thFEST!
Published on March 31, 2026
World Rugby, USA Rugby, and TEG Rugby Live today announced the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup is coming to Commerce City this summer. In an exciting double-header of international rugby action, the USA Eagles are set to face Portugal, while Zimbabwe will take on Tonga, as world-class men’s rugby returns to the Mile High City for a historic Independence Day showcase.
DICK’S Sporting Goods Park will host the Fourth of July double-header as part of Commerce City’s annual 4thFEST event, which includes the state’s largest public fireworks display. The event will kick off with Tonga facing Zimbabwe in the opening match, followed by the USA Eagles taking on Portugal in the headline matchup. Beyond the matches, just outside the stadium the free 4thFEST family-friendly festival will offer fans and the community additional ways to celebrate. The experience will include a live DJ, interactive games, and activities for all ages including a bounce house, a rock-climbing wall, bungee trampolines, and more. The night culminates with Colorado’s largest public fireworks display, which has become an annual entertainment tradition in the Denver area.
Tickets for these matches will go on pre-sale on Tuesday, April 7, with general sale following on Thursday, April 9 at 10 a.m. Fans can register HERE to get early access to tickets.
The World Rugby Nations Cup tournament sees the 12 unions who qualified for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 compete in a structured environment designed to accelerate competitiveness and create certainty of meaningful annual test fixtures with revenue opportunities. The exciting schedule balances geographic spread, player welfare, logistics cost and developmental opportunity, providing fans with clarity, teams with certainty, and unions with commercial opportunities. The competition gives them an annual platform to test themselves against comparable opposition, refine systems, and optimise experience ahead of Australia 2027.
The 12 participating unions will compete in two pools of six, ensuring a consistent, meaningful calendar across the July and November international windows. Pool A – Americas & Pacific pool – features Canada, Chile, Samoa, Tonga, Uruguay, and the USA, bringing together fast‑growing unions across both hemispheres. Pool B – Europe, Asia & Africa pool – comprises Georgia, Hong Kong China, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Zimbabwe, creating a competitive cross‑regional group with diverse playing styles and passionate supporter bases.
All matches will be available to US viewers on Paramount+ and globally on RugbyPass TV.
USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren said: “Consistent competition for our senior national teams continues to be a primary goal at USA Rugby, as we look to grow on the global stage. The World Rugby Nations Cup and these first three fixtures at home are excellent opportunities for our Men's Eagles, and for USA fans to gather around them. With the series kicking off during our national holiday, we're thrilled to play as the USA and celebrate with our rugby community.”
DICK’S Sporting Goods Park is a stadium located in Commerce City, just outside of Denver, and has served as the home of Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids since opening in 2007. In addition to MLS matches, the stadium has hosted U.S. Men’s and Women’s soccer and rugby matches, international competitions, and large-scale concerts and festivals.
“Commerce City is incredibly excited for this new chapter of 4thFEST alongside the World Rugby Nations Cup,” said Commerce City Mayor Steve Douglas. “4thFEST is a long-standing tradition in our community, and we look forward to giving our residents a new twist on this event while welcoming rugby fans to Commerce City for a memorable Independence Day celebration and fireworks show.”
"We are thrilled to host the inaugural edition of this global event at DICK'S Sporting Goods Park with our world-class partners," said Matt Bell, senior vice president of venue operations for Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, which owns and operates DICK'S Sporting Goods Park. "Combining the World Rugby Nations Cup with our well-established 4thFEST on Independence Day, during our nation's historic 250th anniversary, creates a showcase with wide appeal for everyone."
“Denver has built a strong reputation as a premier host city for rugby, welcoming many international and domestic competitions recently, including last year’s Pacific Nations Cup,” said Matthew Payne, executive director of the Denver Sports Commission. “We are thrilled to be kicking off a brand-new rugby event in Denver along with the fan favorite 4thFEST that has become a tradition for Denver sports fans. As rugby continues to grow globally, Denver is proud to remain a trusted destination for major events and a key hub for the game in the United States.”
WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP – Match Schedule
July 4th - DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City
Tonga vs Zimbabwe - 4:15 p.m.
USA vs Portugal - 7 p.m.
View the full Nations Cup schedule online here