One month until the Touch World Cup!

With just 30 days until the World Cup taps off, the excitement is really starting to hit for the 39 nations taking part.

This World Cup is set to be the largest one yet, with around 1,000 games taking place across Highfields Sports Complex and Riverside Sports Complex throughout the week. Thirty-nine nations as far afield as China and Chile, the USA and New Zealand, are sending around 190 teams, and when the opening ceremony starts at 12noon on Monday, July 15, there will be around 4,000 players, referees, coaches and support staff, along with all their supporters, walking out at Highfields.

England have 13 teams in the competition, of which you can see the selected players here, with the Mixed Open and Mixed 30 teams being the first to play on the 15th July at 2pm against France and the USA respectively.

Both the England Men's Open and the Women's Open teams begin their campaign with fixtures against the United States on the 16th of July at 12:20pm and on the 15th July at 3:40pm respectively. Click here to see the full fixture list and schedule.

Key local partners of the World Cup include the University of Nottingham, who have helped England Touch host two European Touch Championships and an Atlantic Youth Touch Cup over the last six years.

“We’re delighted to be welcoming such an exciting world event onto campus here at the University of Nottingham,” says Dan Tilley, Director of Sport, University of Nottingham. “It’s a fantastic opportunity for our students to watch, and be inspired by, global top athletes.

“We look forward to welcoming all the competitors onto campus and ensuring they have a memorably stay here with us in Nottingham.”

Visit Nottinghamshire (part of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire) is another organisation whose team is relishing showcasing the region to the world.

Megan Powell Vreeswijk, CEO of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, added: “The Touch World Cup will showcase the incredible talent and spirit of 39 nations right here in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. With around 1,000 thrilling games, we are delighted to support this incredible sporting event and welcome athletes and fans from around the globe to our region.

“This World Cup not only offers an extraordinary opportunity for visitors and residents to witness world-class competition first-hand, but also places Nottingham and Nottinghamshire firmly on the map for sporting events and underscores our sporting heritage.

“We look forward to an unforgettable week of sportsmanship and camaraderie."

Planning for the Touch World Cup has been underway for many months under the leadership of England Touch CEO, and Event Director, Chris Simon. The management team is now bigger than 20 people, and around 250 volunteers have committed time to help deliver the event.

“The 2024 World Cup is going to be the biggest Touch World Cup to date,” Simon stated. “There is a real excitement building, and we’re confident that everyone who comes to Nottingham will go home thinking that it was the best World Cup they have experienced.

“We have fan villages at both sites, including catering and big screens, and will be live streaming matches from Highfields and Riverside, too. We have put things in place to make this the most sustainable World Cup, too, and have some exciting announcements coming soon.

“Touch has grown dramatically both internationally and here in England, and the week in July will show that it is heading in the right direction.”

The World Cup is free entry at both sites, with Highfields being used all week and Riverside Tuesday-Thursday. For more information head to englandtouch.org.uk/touch-world-cup-2024

The countdown is on!