Ireland play New Zealand again tonight in Chicago(Image: Xavier Laine)
Ireland v New Zealand is perhaps the outstanding fixture of the opening day of autumn internationals, with British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell returning to lead his men after his sabbatical.
The game kicks off at 8pm UK time but is actually being played in Chicago, USA. It will see one of the fiercest rivalries in rugby re-ignited, with the two teams sharing five wins a-piece in their last 10 matches after Ireland’s first ever win over the All Blacks in 2016. That game was also played in Chicago.
The reason for the move of country is a commercial one amid an attempt to grow the game in the US ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup. The match is being played at Soldier Field, with the 61,500-capacity stadium sold out and tickets bought by fans in ever state in the US.
The choice of Chicago is down to the city’s strong Irish heritage and rich sporting history.
Ireland will even wear a special kit to honour the country’s close ties with the city in a nod to the local tradition of dyeing the Chicago River green on St Patrick’s Day every year.
Senior Irish politicians are in town and the “neutral” match is being seen as a lucrative move to capture a segment of the American sports market.
Soldier Field in Chicago hosts Ireland v New Zealand(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
IRFU CEO Kevin Potts said: “It is a chance for them to get the sense when Ireland comes to town, it is a party, it is great fun and a great vibe. And we would be hopeful that they would welcome us and our amazing fans when they are over too.
“It suits us to not have all of our games in Ireland. We pretty much sell out every home game in the Aviva Stadium. We have done so for many years. So taking a game to somewhere like the States protects what we already have but also enhances that by doing something different in a profitable manner and also helping to grow our brand and hopefully provide new sources of revenue in the years ahead.
“From an Irish rugby perspective, it’s a no-brainer for us. With 40 million-plus Irish diaspora in the States and in Chicago, there’s an estimated 1 million plus Irish diaspora. The Ireland rugby brand is strong and, of course, you’re playing the All Blacks, which is the one of the most powerful brands in world sport, so it was an easy decision for us.
“We’ve been thinking about the USA for quite some time, as I’m sure New Zealand have, as are many leading unions now.
“Between now and Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 [women’s tournament] we have a golden opportunity to try to establish some form of a footprint in the USA. I think the game of rugby itself shares a lot of the values of American Football. Of course, we’re not on their scale and we’re certainly not a threat to them.
“But we’ve a lot in common. Three-quarters of tickets for this game have been sold to fans based in Illinois and they were sold out in days.
“We believe, certainly from a ‘brand Ireland’ perspective, and same for New Zealand, from here up to Rugby World Cup is a golden opportunity to try and access what is the biggest sports market in the world and to generate additional revenues, connect with our diaspora in a meaningful way and, overall, grow the brand of Irish rugby and the benefits that can bring. Our goal is to become everyone’s second favourite team at the 2031 and 2033 World Cups.”
Following the game’s announcement, Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said: “Chicago is a world-class sports city, and we’re thrilled to welcome Ireland and the All Blacks back to Soldier Field.
“This match showcases our city’s ability to host premier global sporting events, drawing fans from around the world, boosting tourism, and reinforcing Chicago’s reputation as a top destination for sports, culture, and entertainment.”