England will face the United States in their opening match at next year’s home Women’s Rugby World Cup after organisers confirmed the fixture schedule for the tournament.

The Red Roses, who last week were drawn in Pool A, will play the USA on August 22 at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, kicking off the first of six weekends of action throughout the country.

John Mitchell’s side will meet Samoa the following week at Franklin’s Gardens, before facing Australia – the toughest opponents in their group – at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium (Amex Stadium).

Should they top their pool and results elsewhere go as planned, England are likely to set up a semi-final showdown with France, before meeting either Canada or New Zealand in the final.

Organisers have put “team and fan experience” at the heart of next year’s showpiece, with the majority of fixtures kicking off in the afternoon to boost family attendances.

Scotland and Wales will meet at Salford Community Stadium (commonly known as the AJ Bell Stadium) on Saturday August 23, while reigning champions New Zealand begin their World Cup defence against Spain at York Community Stadium the following day.

Brazil, who became the first team from South America to qualify for a Women’s Rugby World Cup earlier this year, will make their tournament debut against South Africa at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday, August 24.

The final day of the pool stage will see New Zealand face Ireland, who recently beat them at WXV, in Brighton on Sunday, September 7.

Six double-headers will take place during the pool stage in a bid to create a festival atmosphere, while all teams will have a minimum of six rest days between pool matches to optimise player welfare and team performance.

“With thrilling match-ups and unforgettable moments guaranteed across the length and breadth of the country, the stage is set for the world’s top teams to showcase the very best of women’s rugby,” said Sarah Massey, the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 managing director.

The 10th edition of the tournament will feature the world’s 16 best teams – an increase from the 12 nations that took part in the last World Cup in New Zealand.

Which teams are competing at the 2025 Women’s World Cup?

England qualify as hosts; Canada, France and New Zealand, by reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2022; South Africa, by winning the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup; Ireland, after finishing third in the 2024 Women’s Six Nations; USA, by beating Australia in the Pacific Four series; Fiji, who won the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship; Japan who finished top of the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship; and Brazil who beat Colombia to win the Sudamerica play-off.

The final six teams were determined at the 2024 edition of WXV, the three-tier global competition. Australia won WXV2 to book their place while Scotland, Italy and Wales also qualified via that tournament. Spain and Samoa ensured they will take part in next year’s World Cup by finishing first and second respectively in WXV3. Spain last competed in the World Cup in 2017 while Samoa have not taken part since 2014.

What are the four pools?

Hosts England have drawn arguably the toughest group, with both Australia and United States joining them in Pool A with Samoa. The Wallaroos are ranked fifth in the world, while the US are ninth, making them the highest-ranked teams in bands two and three of the draw.

Scotland and Wales have been paired together in Pool B, in what could be a tantalising match-up, particularly in the battle to make the quarter-finals. Canada, ranked second in the world, are the favourites to win that group, which also features Fiji.

Ireland, who recently stunned world champions New Zealand at WXV, have been pitted against the Black Ferns in Pool C as well as Japan and Spain.

France, Italy, South Africa and Brazil make up Pool D. The top two teams from each group progress to the knockouts: quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

The full schedule of matches will be released on October 22.

Which cities are hosting the tournament?

Eight cities across England will stage the tournament. In a measure of the Rugby Football Union’s ambition to spread the game around the country, York, Manchester, Bristol, Exeter and Northampton will all host matches.

Four of the venues are already home to English rugby teams, including Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate, Northampton Saints’ Franklin’s Gardens, Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park and Sale Sharks at the Salford Community Stadium (commonly known as AJ Bell Stadium).

After opening their World Cup campaign in Sunderland, the Red Roses will play their remaining two pool matches Northampton and Brighton.

Ashton Gate will share the quarter-finals with Exeter’s Sandy Park, which hosted the Premiership Women’s Rugby final last week.

Fixtures

Here is the confirmed fixture list in full, right the way up to the final on September 27.

All kick-off times are GMT.

Pool phase

Friday, August 22

England v USA – Stadium of Light, Sunderland – 19:30 (Pool A)

Saturday, August 23

Australia v Samoa – Salford Community Stadium, Manchester,12:00 (Pool A)

Scotland v Wales – Salford Community Stadium, Manchester, 14:45 (Pool B)

Canada v Fiji – Community Stadium, York, 17:30 (Pool B)

France v Italy – Sandy Park, Exeter, 20:15 (Pool D)

Sunday, August 24

Ireland v Japan – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 12:00 (Pool C)

South Africa v Brazil – Franklin Garden’s, Northampton, 14:45 (Pool D)

New Zealand v Spain – Community Stadium, York, 17:30 (Pool C)

Saturday, August 30

Canada v Wales – Salford Community Stadium, Manchester, 12:00 (Pool B)

Scotland v Fiji – Salford Community Stadium, Manchester, 14:45 (Pool B)

England v Samoa – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 17:00 (Pool A)

USA v Australia – Community Stadium, York, 19:30 (Pool A)

Sunday, August 31

Ireland v Spain – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 12:00 (Pool C)

New Zealand v Japan –  Sandy Park, Exeter, 14:00 (Pool C)

Italy v South Africa – Community Stadium, York, 15:30 (Pool D)

France v Brazil – Sandy Park, Exeter, 16:45 (Pool D)

Saturday, September 6

Canada v Scotland – Sandy Park, Exeter, 12:00 (Pool B)

USA v Samoa – Community Stadium, York, 13:30 (Pool A)

Wales v Fiji – Sandy Park, Exeter, 14:45 ( Pool B)

England v Australia – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 17:00 (Pool A)

Sunday, September 7

Japan v Spain – Community Stadium, York, 12:00 (Pool C)

Italy v Brazil –  Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 14:00 ( Pool D)

New Zealand v Ireland – Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 14:45 ( Pool C)

France v South Africa – Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, 16:45 (Pool D)

Quarter-finals

Saturday, September 13

Quarter-final one: Winner Pool C v Runner-up Pool D – Sandy Park, Exeter, 12:00

Quarter-final two: Winner Pool B v Runner-up pool A – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 16:00

Sunday, September 14

Quarter-final three: Winner Pool D v Runner-up Pool C – Sandy Park, Exeter, 12:30

Quarter-final four: Winner Pool A v Runner-up Pool B – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 16:00

Semi-finals

Friday, September 19

Semi-final one: Winner quarter-final one v Winner quarter-final two – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 19:00

Saturday, September 20

Semi-final two: Winner quarter-final three v Winner quarter-final four – Ashton Gate, Bristol, 15:30

Bronze final

Saturday, September 27

Twickenham Stadium, London, 12:30

Final

Saturday, September 27

Twickenham Stadium, London, 16:00

When can I watch the Red Roses next?

Having beaten France 38-19 at Kingsholm and New Zealand 24-12 at Twickenham, England headed to Canada for the WXV1 tournament. They beat the United States, hammered New Zealand and then fought back to beat Canada in their final match to win the tournament again.

They will next play at home during the 2025 Women’s Six Nations, which includes a match against France at Twickenham at the end of April.

World Cup tickets: Prices and how to get them

More than 400,000 tickets will available for the tournament. Ticket prices will range from £5 to £95, with more than 60 per cent of tickets under £25. By the end of the pre-sale window on October 8, more than 60,000 tickets had already been sold for England’s opening match and the final, via the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 website.

The next opportunity to buy tickets is reserved for people with a Mastercard debit or credit card; they get a 48-hour priority-sale window from 11am on October 22 to 11am on October 24.

General sale reopens on November 5 and closes on November 19. Fans can apply for tickets for all matches over the two-week window, with ballots used for any price categories that are oversubscribed.

Child tickets for England’s tournament opener were available for as little as £5, while a family of four could pay £30.

Top tickets for the final at Twickenham, which the Rugby Football Union is hoping to sell out, are priced at £95, with lower-priced options available for adults starting at £30.

How can I watch the World Cup?

BBC Sport will broadcast exclusive coverage of the tournament across linear channels, with every match also available to watch live on BBC iPlayer and the Sport website and app.

Live audio commentary will be broadcast on BBC Radio 5 Live and 5 Sports Extra.

Fans will be able to listen to 5 Live coverage on BBC Sounds, DAB radio and the BBC Sport website.

The exclusive coverage deal means there will also be content across BBC Scotland, BBC Wales and BBC Northern Ireland.

Previous winners

2022 – New Zealand (moved from 2021 amid the Covid pandemic)
2017 – New Zealand 
2014 – England 
2010 – New Zealand 
2006 – New Zealand 
2002 – New Zealand 
1998 – New Zealand 
1994 – England 
1991 – USA