Credit card giant Visa has been unveiled as a commercial partner of the men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027 and the women’s edition in 2029.
The company will serve as a principal partner and official payment technology partner for the tournaments, which will both be held in Australia.
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Visa fills a void left by rival Mastercard, which was a long-standing Rugby World Cup sponsor.
Mastercard had a partnership with the World Rugby governing body since 2008, which covered the showpiece men's tournaments in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
Through a separate deal struck in 2021, the company also became a top-tier worldwide partner for the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2021 (played in 2022) and 2025.
Mastercard was named as the first worldwide tournament partner exclusively for the women’s edition of the Rugby World Cup after the rights for the tournament were unbundled by World Rugby as part of its Women in Rugby commercial program.
As principal partner, Visa will play a “central role” in enhancing the fan experience across both tournaments, providing secure payment technologies within tournament official venues, exclusive access, and premium experience opportunities.
The brand will also become the presenting partner of the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
Michel Poussau, World Rugby chief of revenue, commented: “Visa’s partnership underlines the strength and global appeal of these tournaments. Visa’s technology and expertise will help us enhance the journey for fans in Australia and around the world.”
Stephen Karpin, Visa regional president in Asia Pacific, added: “Some events have their own gravitational pull. Rugby World Cup is one of them. Recent data showed cross-border Visa transactions in host cities of a major sporting event increased nearly 20% year on year.”
Visa joins as a principal partner of the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup alongside Emirates Airlines and Japanese beverage company Asahi.
The tournament will take place next year between October 1 and November 13.
Emirates renewed its deal with the World Rugby governing body last November to continue to cover top-line events for the next 10 years.
Now running through 2035, the airline serves as a World Rugby platinum-tier partner, the sole member of the organization’s highest sponsorship tier.
In June, soft drinks giant Coca-Cola was named as a second-tier sponsor of the men’s tournament, joining automobile lubricants manufacturer Liqui Moly.
Additional sponsors of the flagship event include Dove Men+Care, Gilbert, Macron, LipovitanD, Mitsubishi Estate, Meiji, Fanatics, Ticketmaster, and ChildFund Rugby, which all serve as third-tier suppliers and supporters.
In terms of recent activity for Visa, the company extended its major commercial deal with global soccer's governing body, FIFA, in July, and also renewed its partnerships with tennis' Davis Cup and the Red Bull Formula 1 motor racing teams earlier in the year.
