International Rugby League Chair Troy Grant has declared IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 will be the "biggest global showcase the game has seen" as the draws for the Men's, Women's and Wheelchair tournaments have been announced.
With 26 teams from 14 nations contesting 53 matches over 31 days in nine cities across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, RLWC26 will be the most competitive, ambitious and anticipated Rugby League World Cup since the concept began in 1954.
Kicking off at Sydney's Allianz Stadium on Thursday, October 15 with Australia - winners of the 2025 Ashes Series - pitted against 2025 Pacific Cup champions New Zealand, RLWC26 will feature a competition structure that ensures high intensity and high stakes rugby league.
The opening round will also feature a heavyweight match between England and Tonga at Perth’s HBF Park, on Saturday, October 17, while the Men's group stage culminates with an epic clash between Pacific giants Tonga and Samoa at CommBank Stadium, on Sunday, November 1.
Toa Samoa will also travel to Port Moresby to play the Kumuls in what is set to be the biggest international fixture played on Papua New Guinean soil.
As well as Tonga, England will play France (October 24) in Perth, and Papua New Guinea (October 30) at the WIN Stadium in Wollongong in their opening matches of the tournament.
Also in the group stages, England Women will play Wales, Australia and Samoa, and current World champions England Wheelchair are set to face Wales, USA and Ireland, as they look to defend their title.
The majority of Men's and Women's matches will be staged as double-headers, with Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium hosting the Final of the Men’s and Women’s tournaments, on Sunday, November 15.
Meanwhile, the Wheelchair Final will be held at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre on Friday, November 13.
“International Rugby League has never been more competitive and there will be genuine superstars across all groups and stages in this tournament," IRL Chair Troy Grant said.
“A World Cup is about more than international glory. The biggest stars on the planet will put everything on the line for their country and fans will experience a level of passion and intensity that very few events can rival both on the field and in the stands.
“With the popularity of Rugby League soaring to unprecedented heights, the international game is riding a wave of momentum into what will be the biggest global showcase the game has seen across the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair formats next October and November."
ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys AM said Rugby League had never been stronger and RLWC26 would elevate the international game to new heights.
“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," he 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.
“This will be the best and most successful Rugby League World Cup on record.”
Men
The 10-team Men’s tournament will include one pool of four and two pools of three nations. The pools, which were designed to take into account the most recent IRL World Ranking, are:
Group A
- Australia (1)
- New Zealand (2)
- Fiji (7)
- Cook Islands (9)
Group B
- England (3)
- Samoa (4)
- Lebanon (21)
Group C
- Tonga (5)
- PNG (6)
- France (8)
Women
The eight-team Women’s tournament will feature two Groups of four:
Group A
- Australia (1)
- England (3)
- Samoa (5)
- Wales (7)
Group B
- New Zealand (2)
- France (4)
- Papua New Guinea (6)
- Fiji (10)
Wheelchair
The eight-team Wheelchair tournament, played in its entirety at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre, features two groups of four:
Group A
- England (1)
- Ireland (3)
- Wales (5)
- USA (7)
Group B
- France (2)
- Australia (4)
- Scotland (6)
- New Zealand (9)
Full tournament details and the RLWC26 structure can be found here.
