The United States Rugby Team opens the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup at 9 p.m. ET on July 4 when the Eagles host Portugal at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.
The match is one of the headline fixtures of the opening weekend of World Rugby's new competition, which was created to provide more meaningful international matches for emerging rugby nations.
- Subscribe To FloRugby To Watch Rugby All Season Long
- What's Streaming On FloRugby? Take A Look At The Schedule
- Top 50 Rugby Union Prospects 2026: No. 10-1 | FloRugby Rankings
For the Eagles, it marks the start of an important summer against quality opposition as they continue building toward hosting the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
Portugal, meanwhile, arrives with plenty of confidence after capturing the 2026 Rugby Europe Championship and continuing its rise as one of the sport's fastest-improving national teams.
Before kickoff in Colorado, here are five things to know about USA Rugby vs. Portugal.
USA Rugby Opens The Inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup
Saturday's match marks the beginning of a new era for the Eagles.
The United States is one of 12 nations competing in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup, a new international tournament designed to provide consistent, competitive fixtures for developing rugby nations.
Instead of standalone summer tests, the Eagles will now compete in meaningful matches with tournament standings and a championship on the line.
Opening the competition with a victory would provide an ideal start for the United States.
Portugal Arrives As The 2026 Rugby Europe Champion
Portugal enters the tournament with the confidence of a champion.
Os Lobos claimed the 2026 Rugby Europe Championship, reinforcing the progress the program has made over the past several seasons. The title came after Portugal captured worldwide attention at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, where it earned the nation's first Rugby World Cup victory with an upset over Fiji.
Winning the Rugby Europe Championship confirmed Portugal's emergence as one of Europe's strongest rugby nations outside the Six Nations.
The Eagles will face a confident squad that has become accustomed to winning.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park Welcomes The Eagles Back Home
The United States begins its tournament in familiar surroundings.
Dick's Sporting Goods Park has become one of USA Rugby's regular home venues and will host one of the opening matches of the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup.
Playing on home soil gives the Eagles an opportunity to build early momentum while competing in front of an American crowd.
Home-field advantage could prove valuable against one of Europe's top emerging teams.
Every Match Helps Build Toward The 2031 Rugby World Cup
The Eagles are playing for more than just tournament points.
As the host nation for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, the United States is focused on building a deeper player pool and developing combinations against quality international competition.
The World Rugby Nations Cup provides meaningful test matches that will help accelerate that process.
Every performance this summer offers another opportunity for players to establish themselves ahead of the biggest event in American rugby history.
A Fast Start Could Shape The World Rugby Nations Cup Race
The opening weekend carries added importance in a brand-new competition.
Every result contributes to the World Rugby Nations Cup standings, making an early victory especially valuable as teams begin positioning themselves for the tournament title.
For the Eagles, defeating the reigning Rugby Europe champions would represent one of the program's best victories in recent years.
For Portugal, winning on American soil would further strengthen its reputation as one of international rugby's fastest-rising nations.
With both teams entering the tournament full of confidence, Saturday's matchup could be one of the most competitive fixtures of the opening weekend.
How To Watch USA Rugby vs. Portugal
The United States' opening match in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Cup will stream live on Paramount+ in the United States. Fans can watch the Eagles take on Portugal live on July 4 with a Paramount+ subscription.
How To Watch Every Match Of The 2026 Nations Championship
Every match of the 2026 Nations Championship will stream live in the United States on RugbyPass TV, World Rugby's streaming platform.
World Rugby Rankings On July 1, 2026
- South Africa — 93.94
- New Zealand — 90.33
- Ireland — 89.07
- France — 87.46
- Argentina — 84.97
- England — 83.91
- Scotland — 82.90
- Australia — 81.53
- Fiji — 81.14
- Italy — 79.64
- Wales — 75.07
- Japan — 74.09
- Georgia — 71.94
- Portugal — 69.64
- Uruguay — 69.19
- USA — 68.26
- Spain — 67.51
- Chile — 66.72
- Tonga — 66.66
- Samoa — 66.43
- Belgium — 61.03
- Romania — 60.67
- Hong Kong China — 59.61
- Zimbabwe — 58.80
- Canada — 58.75
How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby
Professional club rugby in Europe all streams on FloRugby and the FloSports app in the United States. FloRugby and FloSports also are the U.S. home to:
FloRugby is also home to match archives and match replays.