The countdown to the biggest and most competitive Rugby League World Cup is entering its final stages, with just one month to go until the heavyweight showdown between the Kangaroos and Kiwis kicks off the tournament at Allianz Stadium on October 15.
The blockbuster clash reignites one of the international game’s greatest rivalries as Australia, the 2025 Ashes Series winners, take on Pacific Cup champions New Zealand before what is set to be the biggest international rugby league crowd in Sydney for almost two decades.
More than 150,000 tickets have already been sold as anticipation builds for Rugby League World Cup 2026, which involves 26 teams representing 14 nations in three tournaments - Men's, Women's and Wheelchair.
Staged across nine cities in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, RLWC26 features 53 matches in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Port Moresby, Christchurch, Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Townsville.
The Kangaroos-Kiwis clash is set to be most attended international rugby league fixture in Sydney since 34,157 fans packed Allianz Stadium for the opening match of the 2008 World Cup between the trans-Tasman rivals.
The tournament culminates on November 15 at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where the Men's and Women's World Cup champions will be crowned after a month of intense competition.
Fans are encouraged to secure their seats now as RLWC26 features a number of must see matches, including:
- England v Tonga at HBF Park on October 17
- Fiji v Cook Islands at McDonald Jones Stadium on October 18
- Tonga v Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on October 23
- Australia v Fiji at Suncorp Stadium on October 25
- England v Papua New Guinea at WIN Stadium on October 30
- New Zealand v Fiji at Cbus Super Stadium on October 31
- Australia v Cook Islands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on October 31
- Samoa v Tonga at CommBank Stadium on November 1
Rugby League World Cup 2026 will also showcase the best of the Women’s game, with the Jillaroos opening two matches against Samoa at CommBank Stadium on October 14 and England at HBF Stadium on October 26.
For the first time, Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair matches will be played alongside each other in Wollongong on October 30 – featuring all three England teams in back-to-back fixtures.
Established in 1954, the Rugby League World Cup is the second oldest sporting World Cup and the 17th edition shapes as the most competitive and unpredictable yet.
The rise of Pacific nations has transformed the international game and traditional powerhouses Australia, New Zealand and England are no longer assured of dominating.
Led by Jason Taumalolo, Tonga ignited a rugby league revolution at RLWC2017 before Samoa became the first Pacific nation to reach a World Cup final in 2022 against Australia at Old Trafford.
Since then, New Zealand have won two Pacific Championships, inflicting a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in the 2023 final.
Tonga qualified for the 2024 Pacific Cup final while Samoa has continued to establish themselves among the game's elite nations by reaching last year’s decider.
Papua New Guinea are also on the rise after winning the Pacific Bowl for the past three years and with the introduction of the Chiefs, while Fiji have been semi-finalists at three of the past four World Cups.
Cook Islands are set to field their strongest team yet while Lebanon and France will be dangerous and unpredictable opponents, and England have a point to prove.
With a unique tournament format featuring crossover matches and head-to-head results playing a crucial role in determining semi-final positions, every match is must-win.
Men
The 10-team Men's World Cup will feature one pool of four nations and two pools of three nations.
- Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands
- Group B: England, Samoa, Lebanon
- Group C: Tonga, Papua New Guinea, France
The Men's tournament begins on October 15 with Australia facing New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, while England's opening clash against Tonga at Perth's HBF Park on October 17 is set to be another highlight of the opening weekend.
The Group stage concludes with a showdown between Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa at CommBank Stadium on November 1 that could determine which nation progresses to the semi-final stage.
Women
The Women's Rugby League World Cup promises to be the most competitive ever, with eight nations vying for international supremacy.
While the Jillaroos remain the benchmark, the ongoing growth of the NRLW competition and changing international eligibility rules have dramatically strengthened rival nations.
The Kiwi Ferns continue to build a formidable squad, while England, Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea are set to be bolstered by NRLW stars.
- Group A: Australia, England, Samoa, Wales
- Group B: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, Fiji
The Women's tournament begins on October 16 when Australia faces Samoa as part of a double-header with the Men's clash between Samoa and France at CommBank Stadium.
Wheelchair
The Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup will once again highlight why rugby league is known as the greatest game for all.
Defending champions England are aiming to secure back-to-back World Cup titles, while France seeks redemption after their heartbreaking defeat in the 2022 final. Australia will be chasing history by winning a Wheelchair World Cup on home soil.
All Wheelchair World Cup matches will be staged at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre, with the opening games on October 30 and the final to be played on November 13.
- Group A: England, Ireland, Wales, USA
- Group B: France, Australia, Scotland, New Zealand
One of the most unique days of RLWC2026 will occur on October 30 when England's Wheelchair team opens its campaign against Wales before the England Men's and Women's teams take the field at the adjoining WIN Stadium in a historic festival of international rugby league.
England kick-off their 2026 Rugby League World Cup campaign in Perth on Saturday 17 October against Tonga. Follow their World Cup journey across England RL digital channels, YouTube and the Our League app.
Photo Credit: NRL Photos
