RLWC26 Draw Announced

Three tournaments, 14 nations, 26 teams, 53 matches, 31 days.

The draw for the 2026 events, to be held in October and November next year, was announced today, alongside the competition structure for the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair competitions. 

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the Final of the Men’s and Women’s tournaments, on Sunday, November 15. Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre will host the Wheelchair Final on Friday, November 13. 

“Rugby League World Cup 2026 couldn’t come at a better time on the back of record-breaking NRL and NRLW seasons, a successful Ashes series, and the most exciting Pacific Championships ever,” Australian Rugby League (ARLC) Chairman Peter V’landys AM said. 

"Representing your country is the ultimate honour and doing so in a World Cup is the ultimate stage. The talent, skill, physicality, passion and raw emotion on display will be something like we have never seen before. 

The 10-team Men’s tournament will include one pool of four and two pools of three nations. The pools are: 

Group A

Australia  
New Zealand  
Fiji  
Cook Islands  

Group B

England  
Samoa  
Lebanon  

Group C

Tonga  
PNG  
France  

Group A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in Group A. Group B and C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group (ie Group B teams will play Group C teams only). 

The Group stage culminates with a match between Pacific giants Tonga and Samoa, at CommBank Stadium, on Sunday, November 1. 

Men’s matches will be played across Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Brisbane, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Townsville. 

The eight-team Women’s tournament will feature two Groups of four: 

Group A

Australia  
England  
Samoa  
Wales 

Group B

New Zealand  
PNG  
France  
Fiji 

Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium will host double-header Semi-Finals across the Men’s and Women’s tournaments. 

The eight-team Wheelchair tournament, played in its entirety at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre, features two groups of four: 

Group A

England  
Ireland  
Wales  
USA  

Group B

France  
Australia  
Scotland  
New Zealand  

The opening match will coincide with a Men’s and Women’s double-header at WIN Stadium on October 30.