Rugby League World Cup 2026: Hosts, locations, teams and formats confirmed
Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2024 6:41 pm
Further details regarding the next World Cup have now been confirmed.
Australia has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup as part of a revised tournament format.
A reduced men's format will consist of just ten teams, while Papua New Guinea will also host matches as part of the tournament. Plans have also been outlined for double and triple-headers to take place, which will seemingly reduce the number of standalone fixtures. Organisers say it will give fans "added value" for ticket prices.
The dates for the tournament have yet to be confirmed, though the event, which will also feature the women's and wheelchair competitions, will take place across October and November 2026. Australia are the holders of the men and women's competitions, while England won the wheelchair event on home soil in 2022.
As it stands, Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, England, Lebanon, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have already qualified for the men’s tournament. They will be joined by two teams who come through the first ever IRL World Series, which takes place next year. Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa have already been confirmed for that competition and they will be joined by winner of European qualifying that takes place in the Autumn between France, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and RLWC2026 promises to be the best and most competitive ever staged.
On behalf of the IRL Board, I would like to congratulate ARLC Chair Peter V’landys, the ARLC Board, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and his team on the quality of their bid and I have every confidence that they will deliver the best World Cup on record.
“We have all been impressed by the ARLC’s ventures into Las Vegas, led by Peter and Andrew, and have no doubt that they will elevate the Rugby League World Cup to a new level.
Rugby League has never been stronger in Australia and the Pacific, with sold-out stadiums, record television ratings and much excitement about the possibility of a team from Papua New Guinea joining the NRL. The 2026 World Cup in Australia, with matches to played in Papua New Guinea, will see the rise of the game in the Pacific reach greater heights and ensure Rugby League is the No.1 sport in the region.
“The condensed format at RLWC2026 will mean every single match is competitive, while the possibility of some games being played as double or triple headers represents great value for fans wanting to see the best Rugby League talent on the planet. The culture, diversity and competitiveness of the nations involved will capture the attention of global audiences and grow the game ever further.”
England have already secured qualification across all three competitions, with full line-ups to be finalised next year.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 4776833d50
Australia has been confirmed as the host of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup as part of a revised tournament format.
A reduced men's format will consist of just ten teams, while Papua New Guinea will also host matches as part of the tournament. Plans have also been outlined for double and triple-headers to take place, which will seemingly reduce the number of standalone fixtures. Organisers say it will give fans "added value" for ticket prices.
The dates for the tournament have yet to be confirmed, though the event, which will also feature the women's and wheelchair competitions, will take place across October and November 2026. Australia are the holders of the men and women's competitions, while England won the wheelchair event on home soil in 2022.
As it stands, Australia, Samoa, New Zealand, England, Lebanon, Tonga, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have already qualified for the men’s tournament. They will be joined by two teams who come through the first ever IRL World Series, which takes place next year. Cook Islands, Jamaica and South Africa have already been confirmed for that competition and they will be joined by winner of European qualifying that takes place in the Autumn between France, Serbia, Wales and Ukraine.
IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and RLWC2026 promises to be the best and most competitive ever staged.
On behalf of the IRL Board, I would like to congratulate ARLC Chair Peter V’landys, the ARLC Board, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and his team on the quality of their bid and I have every confidence that they will deliver the best World Cup on record.
“We have all been impressed by the ARLC’s ventures into Las Vegas, led by Peter and Andrew, and have no doubt that they will elevate the Rugby League World Cup to a new level.
Rugby League has never been stronger in Australia and the Pacific, with sold-out stadiums, record television ratings and much excitement about the possibility of a team from Papua New Guinea joining the NRL. The 2026 World Cup in Australia, with matches to played in Papua New Guinea, will see the rise of the game in the Pacific reach greater heights and ensure Rugby League is the No.1 sport in the region.
“The condensed format at RLWC2026 will mean every single match is competitive, while the possibility of some games being played as double or triple headers represents great value for fans wanting to see the best Rugby League talent on the planet. The culture, diversity and competitiveness of the nations involved will capture the attention of global audiences and grow the game ever further.”
England have already secured qualification across all three competitions, with full line-ups to be finalised next year.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 4776833d50