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 were 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 the Kangaroos - 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.

In the Women's draw, the all-conquering Jillaroos have been scheduled to play in prime time TV slots - a key stragetic priority to to maximise the reach and profile of the Women's game.

The majority of Men's and Women's matches will be staged as double-headers, with all venues in traditional Rugby League heartland or key strategic markets.  

Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium will host the Final of the Men’s and Women’s tournaments, on Sunday, November 15, while 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)

Group A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in Group A.

Group B and Group C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group - ie: Group B teams (England, Samoa, Lebanon) will only play Group C teams (Tonga, Papau New Guinea, France), and vice-versa. Group B and Group C teams will not play the other teams in their pool. 

The top two teams from Group A will progress to the Semi-Finals, while the top two teams from a combined table of Group B and Pool C will progress to the Semi-Finals.

If two teams from the same group are level on points, for-and-against will determine the highest ranked team. If a team from Group B and a team from Group C are level on points, the head-to-head result of their match will determine the highest ranked team on the combined ladder.

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

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)

The Women’s tournament will kick off on Friday, October 16 with a clash between the all-conquering Australian Jillaroos and Samoa at CommBank Stadium.

Each team will play three matches against the other teams in their Group. The top two teams from each Group will progress to the Semi-Finals.

Women’s Group matches will be played across Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Wollongong and Gold Coast.

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

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)

The opening matches - Ireland v USA and England v Wales - will coincide with an England Men’s and Women’s double header at WIN Stadium against Papua New Guinea and Fetu Samoa on Friday, October 30.

The full draw is available at https://www.rlwc2026.com

Tickets are now on sale for all Men’s and Women’s Group stage and Semi-Final matches from $19 (AUD) for adults and $49 (AUD) for families. Tickets for the Suncorp Stadium Final start from $39 (AUD) for adults) and $109 (AUD) for families.

Tickets are on sale through https://www.rlwc2026.com