Australia has been announced as the host country of the 2026 men’s, women’s and wheelchair Rugby League World Cups (RLWC).
The tournament will take place in October and November 2026, contested between 26 teams consisting of 10 men’s teams, eight women’s teams and eight wheelchair teams.
Matches will not just take place in Australia, however. Some games will also be held in Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is the national sport.
The International Rugby League (IRL) states that it wants to celebrate the Pacific culture, where rugby league has a huge following, by staging RLWC 26 games across both countries.
“The Rugby League World Cup is the pinnacle of the sport and RLWC2026 promises to be the best and most competitive ever staged,” said IRL Chair, Troy Grant.
“On behalf of the IRL Board, I would like to congratulate ARLC Chair Peter V’landys, the ARLC Board, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo and his team on the quality of their bid and I have every confidence that they will deliver the best World Cup on record.
“We have all been impressed by the ARLC’s ventures into Las Vegas, led by Peter and Andrew, and have no doubt that they will elevate the Rugby League World Cup to a new level.”
Rugby league is one of the most widely followed sports in Australia, with the National Rugby League (NRL) one of the most watched and lucrative sports tournaments in the country alongside the Australian Football League (AFL) and cricket’s Big Bash League (BBL).
As the hosting arrangements have only just been announced, it is still too early for any speculation on commercial partnerships. However, as with previous tournaments RLWC 26 will likely drum up extensive media and sponsorship interest.
Betting partnerships may be a tricky issue, however. Although the sport has some flagship bookmaker deals – Betfred and the Super League comes to mind – Australian rugby league has been distancing itself from the industry lately, largely due to social responsibility concerns.
Regardless of commercial matters, IRL is confident that Australia will replicate the successes of its hosting of the 2008 and 2017 World Cups. The decision to stage the tournament in Australia comes after it was delayed by a year, having initially been scheduled to take place in 2025 in France, but the country withdrew as host.
“Rugby League has never been stronger in Australia and the Pacific, with sold-out stadiums, record television ratings and much excitement about Pacific expansion,” Grant remarked.
“The 2026 World Cup in Australia, with matches to be played in Papua New Guinea, will see the rise of the game in the Pacific reach greater heights and ensure Rugby League is the No.1 sport in the region.
“The condensed format at RLWC2026 will mean every single match is competitive, while the possibility of some games being played as double or triple headers represents great value for fans wanting to see the best rugby league talent on the planet.
“The culture, diversity and competitiveness of the nations involved will capture the attention of global audiences and grow the game ever further.”
