Argentina host Wales in Round 2 of the inaugural 2026 World Rugby Nations Championship, with Los Pumas welcoming the Red Dragons to the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan on Saturday 11 July 2026. Kick-off is at 8:00 PM BST.
When and where is Argentina vs Wales?
The match takes place at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina, on Saturday 11 July 2026. Kick-off is at 8:00 PM BST (5:00 PM local Argentina time). The fixture is Round 2 of the July series in the inaugural World Rugby Nations Championship.
What is the Nations Championship?
The Nations Championship is a new biennial international rugby union competition launched in 2026. It brings together 12 of the world’s leading nations in a North vs South format: the six Six Nations countries (England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales) face the six southern hemisphere sides (New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Japan, and Fiji).
Competition runs across two phases — a southern series in July and a northern series in November — before a Finals Weekend at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, on 27 to 29 November 2026. At Finals Weekend, the top-ranked northern nation plays the top-ranked southern nation in the inaugural championship final, with the remaining cross-table positions also settled across the three days. The tournament is designed to create meaningful fixtures between the hemispheres across a full season, and will run biennially with the next edition in 2028.
Argentina’s July series
Los Pumas play all three of their July fixtures at home in Argentina, across three venues spread across the country. Round 1 opened with Scotland visiting Cordoba on 4 July, before the Round 2 clash with Wales arrives in San Juan on 11 July. England complete Argentina’s home schedule at Estadio Unico Madre de Ciudades in Santiago del Estero on 18 July.
Argentina bring genuine southern hemisphere credentials. They compete in the Rugby Championship alongside New Zealand, South Africa, and Australia, and have been a top-eight side at each of the last four Rugby World Cups. After reaching the semi-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, Los Pumas enter the Nations Championship as a confirmed tier-one nation. At home, in front of passionate Pumas crowds, they are a formidable proposition for any visiting side.
Wales’s July series
Wales opened their Nations Championship campaign in Cardiff, hosting Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium on 4 July, before the series takes them to South America and then South Africa. After San Juan, the Red Dragons travel to Kings Park Stadium in Durban to face the Springboks on 18 July. It is a searching away schedule that asks genuine questions of Welsh depth and resilience.
The Nations Championship arrives at a pivotal moment for Welsh rugby. The sport in Wales is working through a period of structural and on-field rebuilding as it targets the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. July Tests against southern hemisphere opposition — Argentina and South Africa — provide a hard measure of where the squad stands in the global order.
Argentina vs Wales: recent history
The two nations have met in Tests and at Rugby World Cups over several decades. Argentina produced a strong 35-10 pool-stage win over Wales at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Lyon, a result that underscored Los Pumas’ quality when fully motivated in a tournament they went on to reach the semi-finals. Their encounters have generally been competitive, with Argentina holding an advantage on home soil where the crowd, conditions, and South American climate add to the challenge for visiting European sides.
The Nations Championship now puts these fixtures into a recurring competitive structure rather than occasional standalone tours, raising the stakes for both nations’ northern-southern hemisphere standings.
How to watch Argentina vs Wales in the UK
The Nations Championship is available on free-to-air television in the United Kingdom for both the 2026 and 2028 editions. ITV holds the broadcast rights for the tournament in the UK, with Welsh-language coverage available on S4C. Both channels’ match coverage typically begins around 30 minutes before kick-off. Kick-off in San Juan is at 8:00 PM BST, making it a late Saturday evening fixture for UK viewers.
Global broadcast information for viewers in other territories is available on the official World Rugby Nations Championship website.
Tickets
Tickets for Argentina’s home fixtures in the Nations Championship are available through the official Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) and World Rugby ticketing channels. Demand for Los Pumas home Tests is typically high, particularly against northern hemisphere opposition, and early booking through official channels is recommended to avoid secondary market premiums and the risk of invalid tickets.
Key details
- Date: Saturday 11 July 2026
- Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
- Venue: Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan, Argentina
- TV (UK): ITV / S4C
- Competition: 2026 World Rugby Nations Championship, Round 2 (July series)
Frequently asked questions
When is Argentina vs Wales? Saturday 11 July 2026, kick-off at 8:00 PM BST at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, San Juan.
How can I watch Argentina vs Wales in the UK? On ITV or S4C, which carry all Nations Championship fixtures free-to-air in the UK.
Where is Argentina vs Wales being played? At the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario in San Juan, Argentina.
What is the Nations Championship? A new biennial World Rugby competition pitting the Six Nations countries against the top southern hemisphere nations across July and November fixtures, with Finals Weekend at Twickenham.