Rugby League World Cup 2026
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup runs from 15 October to 15 November across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
RLWC 2026 Guide is an independent fan guide to the Rugby League World Cup, also known as the NRL World Cup: the draw, squads, fixtures, TV channels and tickets, kept up to date through to the finals.
- 15 Oct to 15 Nov 2026
- 3 host nations
- 26 teams in 3 tournaments
Official tickets on Ticketmaster. We may earn a small commission if you buy through this link.
Countdown to kick-off: Thu 15 Oct, 8:05pm Sydney time
When and where is RLWC 2026?
Everything you need to know about the tournament, in one table.
See the full schedule| Detail | RLWC 2026 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 15 October to 15 November 2026 |
| Also known as | RLWC 2026, RL World Cup 2026, or the “NRL World Cup” |
| Host nations | Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea |
| Tournaments | Men’s (10 teams), Women’s (8) and Wheelchair (8) |
| Opening match | Australia v New Zealand, Thu 15 Oct, Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| Men’s and Women’s Finals | Sun 15 Nov, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| Wheelchair Final | Fri 13 Nov, WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong |
| Where to watch | Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK) |
About RLWC 2026 Guide
RLWC 2026 Guide is an independent, fan-run guide to the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair World Cups.
We bring schedules, tickets, TV channels and squads into plain-English guides, and update them as news breaks.
This is not the official tournament website. For official news, visit rlwc2026.com.
Where to watch, by country
Free-to-air, pay TV and streaming options.
Updated through kickoff
Every guide shows when it was last updated.
Where can I watch RLWC 2026?
Every match is on TV in the host nations and the UK.
Other countries: full how-to-watch guide| Country | Channel | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Seven Network and 7plus | Free |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport | Subscription |
| UK and Ireland | Premier Sports | Subscription |
| Papua New Guinea | Digicel | Check local packages |
Latest team news
Squad announcements as they happen, newest first.
- 9 OctRugby League World Cup 2026 results and table: every score, updated after each match
- 9 OctEngland’s next game: Tonga in Perth on 17 October, 10:05am UK time
- 6 OctEngland name 23-man squad: George Williams captains, seven Wigan players
- 6 OctToa Samoa squad named: Junior Paulo captains, Payne Haas out
- 6 OctTonga name 24: Taumalolo set for his last World Cup
- 6 OctPNG Kumuls squad named, Alex Johnston out injured
- 6 OctCook Islands squad named: Valentine Holmes to debut
- 5 OctJillaroos name their 23-player squad: Isabelle Kelly captains, Brigginshaw left out
- 5 OctKangaroos name their 23-man squad: Isaah Yeo captains, six debutants
- 1 OctLebanon Cedars: Michael Cheika’s squad to be built around Jacob Kiraz
- 1 OctFrance name their 23-man World Cup squad, with eight Toulouse players
- 30 SepCook Islands Aitu: Valentine Holmes pledges to play, squad still to be named
- 30 SepNew Zealand Kiwis: full 39-player training squad, led by James Fisher-Harris
- 28 SepEngland Women name their 23-player World Cup squad
- 28 SepPNG pick a 40-man preliminary squad, with the final 23 due in early October
- 27 SepSamoa and Tonga squads still to be named
- SepFiji name a 40-man extended squad for the World Cup
Which teams are playing at RLWC 2026?
All teams and groupsHow much are RLWC 2026 tickets?
Official tickets are sold by Ticketmaster, the tournament’s authorised seller.
Avoid social media sellers: resold tickets can be cancelled without a refund.
Three World Cups, one tournament
Men’s World Cup
10 teams, starting with Australia v New Zealand on 15 October.
The Final is at Suncorp Stadium on 15 November.
Full scheduleWomen’s World Cup
8 teams, with 70-minute matches and the Jillaroos defending their title.
Starts 16 October, Final on 15 November.
Women’s World Cup guideWheelchair World Cup
8 teams, every match at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
Runs 30 October to the Final on 13 November.
Wheelchair World Cup guideRecent Articles
View all articles- Kiwi Ferns vs PNG Orchids Rugby League World Cup 2026
- England vs Samoa Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Australia vs New Zealand Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026
- England vs Wales Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Rugby League Eligibility Rules: Who Can Play for Which Country?
- Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup 2026 Squads
When are the key RLWC 2026 dates?
- Men’s opener, Sydney
- Women’s opener, Parramatta
- Wheelchair World Cup begins
- Semi-finals
- Wheelchair Final, Wollongong
- Men’s and Women’s Finals, Brisbane
RLWC 2026 questions, answered
Short answers to what fans ask most.
When is the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
RLWC 2026 runs from 15 October to 15 November 2026 across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
It opens with Australia v New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Sydney. Full schedule
What is the NRL World Cup?
NRL World Cup is a popular name for the Rugby League World Cup 2026, played from 15 October to 15 November.
The NRL is Australia’s club competition, but many NRL stars play in the World Cup for their countries. See every team
What is the Rugby League World Cup 2026 draw?
The draw split the 10 men’s teams into three groups. Group A is Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands, Group B is England, Samoa and Lebanon, and Group C is Tonga, PNG and France.
The top two in Group A and the top two across Groups B and C reach the semi-finals. Draw and schedule
Which NRL players are at the Rugby League World Cup?
Many of the NRL’s best players are in the tournament. Australia’s and New Zealand’s 23-man squads are made up entirely of NRL players.
Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands also have NRL stars. Teams and squads
Which teams have named their Rugby League World Cup 2026 squads?
All 10 men’s teams have named their squads, with Lebanon the last to confirm on 7 October 2026.
Where is the Rugby League World Cup 2026 Final?
The Men’s and Women’s Finals are both on Sunday 15 November 2026 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Wheelchair Final is on Friday 13 November at the WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong.
Where can I buy official RLWC 2026 tickets?
Official tickets are sold through Ticketmaster, from $19 AUD for adults and $49 AUD for families.
Avoid social media sellers and unofficial resale sites. Tickets guide
How can I watch RLWC 2026 if I’m not in Australia?
In New Zealand, watch on Sky Sport. In the UK and Ireland, Premier Sports shows every match live.
In Papua New Guinea, matches are on Digicel. How to watch
How many teams are competing in RLWC 2026?
26 teams: 10 in the Men’s World Cup, 8 in the Women’s and 8 in the Wheelchair World Cup. Teams guide
When is the Wheelchair World Cup 2026?
It runs from 30 October to the Final on 13 November 2026.
Every match is played at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
How often is the Rugby League World Cup held?
It’s now held every four years. After 2026, the next men’s World Cup is due in 2030. World Cup history
Is the Rugby League World Cup the same as the Rugby World Cup?
No. The Rugby League World Cup is for rugby league, played 13-a-side.
The Rugby World Cup is for rugby union, played 15-a-side, and its next men’s tournament is in Australia in 2027. League vs union explained
What time is the opening match in the UK?
Australia v New Zealand kicks off at 10:05am UK time on Thursday 15 October 2026, which is 8:05pm in Sydney.
Is rlwc2026guide.com the official tournament website?
No. RLWC 2026 Guide is an independent fan guide, not affiliated with International Rugby League, the ARLC or the tournament organisers.
The official website is rlwc2026.com.