The Nations Championship will debut in 2026 with a format that combines a regular phase and a series of unprecedented finals. Twelve national teams—six from the Northern Hemisphere and six from the Southern Hemisphere—will participate, with Argentina's 'Pumas' among them. The tournament will conclude between November 27 and 29, when London will host the decisive matches, as reported by the Argentine News Agency. The regular phase will be organized into two groups, one per hemisphere, with each team playing six matches: three in July and three in November. The points system will be the standard one for international rugby: four points for a win, two for a draw, and zero for a loss, plus a bonus point for scoring four tries or for losing by seven points or less. All finals will be held at the Allianz Stadium. This weekend promises to define not only the tournament champion but also which side of the planet dominates international rugby in this new era. On one hand, the grand final will be played between the top teams from each group to crown the absolute champion of the tournament. This match will award the main trophy and pit the two best teams of the championship against each other after six demanding and even rounds. Additionally, a second collective title will be at stake: the Hemisphere Trophy. To determine its winner, there will be direct clashes between teams in equivalent positions from each group: first vs. first, second vs. second, and so on up to sixth. Each victory will add points for its hemisphere: two units for winning the match between the top teams and one for winning the other matches. This table will determine the final standings and the pairings for the decisive weekend. The closing will have a dual attraction.
