It’s almost time. The Rugby League World Cup kicks off this Thursday, and with the tournament being played across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, this is about as close to a home World Cup as Aussie league fans are ever going to get. Here’s everything you need to know about who’s playing, where, and how to keep up with it all.
The Basics
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup runs from 15 October to 15 November, and it’s actually three tournaments in one. The men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cups are all being played at the same time, with equal billing. The men’s tournament features 10 teams playing 18 matches across the three host nations, while the wheelchair World Cup runs from 30 October to 13 November, with every match at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
It’s worth knowing that this tournament is a replacement for the cancelled 2025 World Cup, and that cutting the men’s field from 16 teams to 10 hasn’t been without criticism. Players and associations from lower-ranked nations have argued it makes qualifying much harder for them and could stall the growth of the game in those countries.
The Opening Weekend
The men’s tournament gets going straight away with a blockbuster. On Thursday 15 October, Australia take on New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Sydney, with kick-off at 8:05 pm Sydney time. Not a bad way to start a World Cup.
Here’s how the first few days of men’s action look:
- Thursday 15 October: Australia v New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (8:05 pm)
- Friday 16 October: Samoa v France, CommBank Stadium, Sydney (5:45 pm)
- Saturday 17 October: Papua New Guinea v Lebanon, Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby (3:25 pm)
- Saturday 17 October: England v Tonga, HBF Park, Perth (8:05 pm)
- Sunday 18 October: Fiji v Cook Islands, McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle (4:05 pm)
All kick-off times above are Sydney time, so if you’re following from elsewhere you’ll want to convert them.
The women’s tournament begins on Friday 16 October, with Australia taking on Samoa at CommBank Stadium following the men’s Samoa v France match.
Other Key Men’s Group Games to Circle
Beyond the opening weekend, a few fixtures stand out:
- Tonga v Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on Friday 23 October
- England v France at HBF Park in Perth on Saturday 24 October
- Australia v Fiji at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Sunday 25 October
- England v Papua New Guinea at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Friday 30 October
- Australia v Cook Islands at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday 31 October
- Tonga v Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Sunday 1 November, a rivalry that always delivers
The Knockout Stage
The semi-finals are scheduled for 7 and 8 November, with the first at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle and the second at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. Then it all comes down to Sunday 15 November, when both the men’s and women’s Grand Finals are played at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Venues
Twelve venues across three countries have been selected, which makes this a genuine national road trip for fans. They include:
- Sydney: Allianz Stadium and CommBank Stadium
- Brisbane: Suncorp Stadium, home of the Finals
- Perth: HBF Park
- Newcastle: McDonald Jones Stadium
- Gold Coast: Cbus Super Stadium
- Townsville: Queensland Country Bank Stadium
- Wollongong: WIN Stadium and the WIN Entertainment Centre
- Christchurch, New Zealand: One NZ Stadium
- Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea: Santos National Football Stadium
How to Follow Along
The official fixture listings show the games being available on 7plus in Australia, and the official tournament site at rlwc2026.com has the full draw, pools and match schedule. If you’re outside Australia, check your local rugby league broadcaster, as coverage varies by country. Because kick-offs are in Sydney time, a fixture list converted to your own time zone will save you plenty of confusion.
Why You Shouldn’t Miss It
A World Cup on Australian soil, with three tournaments running side by side, a mix of heavyweights and rising nations, and a Brisbane Grand Final to finish it all off, doesn’t come around often. Whether you’re a die-hard league fan or just want a reason to stay up for a big international sporting event, this is the next big thing on the calendar, and just one of the highlights in everything still left in the 2026 sporting year.