2026 World Cup

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup will bring together the world’s best international teams across a month-long tournament held in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The competition begins on October 15, with Australia taking on New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, and runs through to the final in mid-November.

Below you can find the full draw, fixtures, venues and schedule for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with match pages to be added as the tournament approaches.

Table of contents

All times AEDT

Men

Round 1

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool AThursday 15 October 20268:05pmAllianz StadiumAustralia vs New Zealand
Pool BFriday 16 October 20265:45pmCommBank StadiumSamoa vs France
Pool BSaturday 17 October 20263:25pmSantos National Football StadiumPapua New Guinea vs Lebanon
Pool ASaturday 17 October 20268:05pmHBF ParkEngland vs Tonga
Pool ASunday 18 October 20264:05pmMcDonald Jones StadiumFiji vs Cook Islands

Round 2

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool AFriday 23 October 20268:05pmCommBank StadiumTonga vs Lebanon
Pool BSaturday 24 October 20263:25pmSantos National Football StadiumPapua New Guinea vs Samoa
Pool BSaturday 24 October 20265:35pmHBF ParkEngland vs France
Pool ASunday 25 October 20264:05pmOne NZ StadiumNew Zealand vs Cook Islands
Pool ASunday 25 October 20268:05pmSuncorp StadiumAustralia vs Fiji

Round 3

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool BFriday 30 October 20268:05pmWIN StadiumEngland vs Papua New Guinea
Pool ASaturday 31 October 20263:45pmCbus Super StadiumNew Zealand vs Fiji
Pool ASaturday 31 October 20268:05pmQueensland Country Bank StadiumAustralia vs Cook Islands
Pool BSunday 1 November 20265:50pmCommBank StadiumLebanon vs France
Pool BSunday 1 November 20268:05pmCommBank StadiumTonga vs Samoa

Semi-Finals: weekend 7-8 November 2026
Final: Suncorp Stadium, 15 November 2026

Women

Round 1

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool AFriday 16 October 20268:05pmCommBank StadiumAustralia vs Samoa
Pool BSaturday 17 October 20261:15pmSantos National Football StadiumPapua New Guinea vs France
Pool ASaturday 17 October 20265:35pmHBF ParkEngland vs Wales
Pool BSunday 18 October 20261:50pmMcDonald Jones Stadium, NewcastleNew Zealand vs Fiji

Round 2

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool AFriday 23 October 20265:50pmCommBank StadiumSamoa vs Wales
Pool BSaturday 24 October 20261:15pmSantos National Football StadiumFiji vs Papua New Guinea
Pool ASaturday 24 October 20268:05pmHBF ParkAustralia vs England
Pool BSunday 25 October 20261:50pmOne NZ StadiumNew Zealand vs France

Round 3

PoolDateTimeVenue
Pool AFriday 30 October 20265:50pmWIN StadiumEngland vs Samoa
Pool BSaturday 31 October 20261:35pmCbus Super StadiumFiji vs France
Pool BSaturday 31 October 20265:55pmCbus Super StadiumNew Zealand vs Papua New Guinea
Pool ASunday 1 November 20263:45pmCommBank StadiumAustralia vs Wales

Semi-Finals: weekend 7-8 November 2026
Final: Suncorp Stadium, 15 November 2026

Wheelchair

Round 1

PoolDateTimeVenueTeam A vs Team B
Pool AFriday 30 October 20261:00pmWIN Entertainment CentreIreland vs USA
Pool AFriday 30 October 20263:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreEngland vs Wales
Pool BSaturday 31 October 20263:00pmWIN Entertainment CentreFrance vs Scotland
Pool BSaturday 31 October 20265:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreAustralia vs New Zealand

Round 2

PoolDateTimeVenueTeam A vs Team B
Pool BTuesday 3 November 202611:00amWIN Entertainment CentreFrance vs New Zealand
Pool BTuesday 3 November 20261:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreAustralia vs Scotland
Pool ATuesday 3 November 20264:00pmWIN Entertainment CentreIreland vs Wales
Pool ATuesday 3 November 20266:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreEngland vs USA

Round 3

PoolDateTimeVenueTeam A vs Team B
Pool BFriday 6 November 202611:00amWIN Entertainment CentreScotland vs New Zealand
Pool AFriday 6 November 20261:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreWales vs USA
Pool AFriday 6 November 20265:00pmWIN Entertainment CentreEngland vs Ireland
Pool BFriday 6 November 20267:30pmWIN Entertainment CentreFrance vs Australia

Semi-Finals: 9-10 November 2026
Final: 12-13 November 2026