Rugby League World Cup 2026 Schedule & Fixtures
October is here, and if you are a huge rugby fan, you know the Rugby League World Cup 2026 schedule is finally confirmed, with the tournament kicking off this October.
The Rugby League World Cup takes place every 4 years, and 2026 is the year of another great edition of the RLWC.
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 is set to start on 15 October 2026 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The first match will be between two of the most powerful teams in Rugby: Australia vs New Zealand.
RLWC 2026 will end on 15 November 2026 with the Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
In this article, we will share the complete and official schedule and fixtures of the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
We will also cover ticket prices and how to avoid scam sellers as the tournament approaches.
Last updated: August 2026 — schedule details below reflect the official fixture release and are cross-checked against International Rugby League.
Quick Answer: The RLWC 2026 runs 15 October – 15 November 2026 across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The Men’s tournament opens with Australia vs New Zealand at Allianz Stadium, Sydney, and the Grand Final is 15 November at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane — the same day as the Women’s final. Semi-finals are 7–8 November.
Rugby League World Cup 2026
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is the 17th edition of the Men’s Rugby tournament.
The RLWC 2026 is being hosted across three countries: Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
Just like 2021st edition of RLWC, this one will also have 3 tournaments in total in just one event.
Those 3 tournaments are the Men’s, Women’s, and Wheelchair World Cups, all of which will run at the same time and carry equal status.
The Men’s tournament of the RLWC has been reduced from 16 teams to 10 for 2026, according to the officials.
Also, check out: How to watch Rugby League World Cup 2026
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Official Schedule
The complete and official schedule for the RLWC 2026 has been released.
The tournament will take place from 15th October to 15th November across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
Given below is the official schedule of all 3 tournaments happening in the RLWC 2026.
Men’s Tournament Schedule
There are 10 teams in the Men’s tournament, which are divided into 3 groups with a unique crossover.
- Group A (4 teams): Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji
- Group B (3 teams): England, Lebanon, Samoa
- Group C (3 teams): France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga
The format of this Rugby League World Cup is different than other World Cups.
In this format, the Group A teams, which play against each other, like Australia, can only play against the other 3 teams in their Group.
However, Group B and Group C teams of the RLWC 2026 Men’s tournament will play against each other.
Like England, from Group B, have to play against France and other teams in Group C.
The top 2 teams from Group A and the top 2 teams from Group B & C combined will successfully qualify for the semifinals of the tournament.
| Stage | Dates | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Match | 15 October 2026 | Australia vs New Zealand, Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| Group Stage | 15 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 | All group fixtures across 9 cities |
| England vs Tonga | 17 October 2026 | HBF Park, Perth |
| Samoa vs Tonga | 1 November 2026 | CommBank Stadium, Sydney |
| Semi-Finals | 7–8 November 2026 | TBC |
| Grand Final | 15 November 2026 | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
Women’s Tournament Schedule
The Women’s tournament features 8 teams split into two groups of four.
The top 2 teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals. In total, 4 teams will qualify for the semifinals.
- Group A: Australia, England, Samoa, Wales
- Group B: Fiji, France, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea
The Women’s tournament will start on Friday, 16 October, at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.
The very first match of the tournament is between the Australian Jillaroos and Samoa.
Women’s group matches are spread across Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Wollongong, and the Gold Coast.
The Grand Final will take place at Suncorp Stadium on 15 November, the same day as the Men’s final.
Wheelchair Tournament Schedule
The Wheelchair World Cup also features 8 teams across two groups of four.
- Group A: Australia, France, New Zealand, Scotland
- Group B: England, Ireland, the United States, Wales
Unlike the other two tournaments, the entire Wheelchair World Cup is played at one venue, which is the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong
The Wheelchair Final takes place on 13 November 2026, two days before the Men’s and Women’s finals.
How To Get Tickets For RLWC 2026?
This question is going to be the most asked in the upcoming days from the RLWC fans.
There are several ways you can purchase tickets for RLWC 2026.
Fans can purchase tickets for the Rugby League World Cup from the Ticketmaster website. For a full breakdown of pricing tiers and how to avoid resale scams, see our complete RLWC 2026 tickets guide.
Tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster, starting from $19 AUD for adults and $49 AUD for families for group stage and semi-final matches.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Schedule: Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Rugby League World Cup 2026 start?
The Men’s tournament kicks off on 15 October 2026 with Australia vs New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Sydney. The Women’s competition starts a day later, on 16 October, and the Wheelchair World Cup begins on 31 October.
When is the RLWC 2026 Grand Final?
The Men’s and Women’s Grand Finals are both played on 15 November 2026 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. The Wheelchair Final is held two days earlier, on 13 November, at the WIN Entertainment Centre in Wollongong.
How many teams are playing in RLWC 2026?
26 teams in total: 10 in the Men’s tournament, 8 in the Women’s tournament, and 8 in the Wheelchair tournament. See our full RLWC 2026 teams guide for squad-by-squad breakdowns.
When are the RLWC 2026 semi-finals?
The semi-finals are scheduled for 7–8 November 2026, with venues to be confirmed once group-stage standings are finalised.
Where can I watch RLWC 2026 matches live?
Broadcast and streaming options vary by country. Check our guide to watching RLWC 2026 for the full list of confirmed broadcasters.
Who is the defending Rugby League World Cup champion?
Australia are the defending champions heading into RLWC 2026 and will play the tournament on home soil.
Conclusion
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 will start on 15 October 2026 at Allianz Stadium in Sydney and will end on 15 November 2026.
The first match of the tournament is between Australia and New Zealand, and the Grand Final will take place at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
The Women’s competition kicks off a day later, and the Wheelchair World Cup joins in from 31 October.
If you want to join and watch the tournament on the ground, you can book your tickets from Ticketmaster.com
