The Bay Area has submitted a bid to play host to the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens, a three-day event that would be held at AT&T Park and the Earthquakes new Avaya Stadium.

The sport makes its Olympic debut at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. The World Cup two years later will feature 24 men’s teams and 16 women’s teams. Other host candidates include England, Portugal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and Wales.

The American bid is led by the Giants, the Earthquakes and the Bay Area Sports Organizing Committee, a group that tries to attract international events locally.

Earthquakes president Dave Kaval said Friday the World Cup bid is good for the Bay Area because the region is “by far the most influential area in the United States for rugby.”

Sevens is an abbreviated form of the sport that has 15 players per side. The World Cup is considered the sport’s most prestigious tournament.

The bidders expect to meet with International Rugby Union officials next month. The host city is scheduled to be named May 14, 2015.

Kaval said the World Cup bid is one of many events the Earthquakes would like to bring to 18,000-seat Avaya Stadium, which is adjacent to Mineta San Jose International Airport.

The soccer team is bidding for the state CIF high school football championship for a three-year cycle. Team officials expect to learn their fate early next year.

The Earthquakes also are exploring ideas about bringing a local pro rugby team and a women’s pro soccer team to San Jose.

Kaval said the new stadium that is scheduled to open in March could play host to soccer events as part of San Francisco’s bid to win the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Contact Elliott Almond at 408-920-5865 and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/elliottalmond.