New Zealand vs Fiji Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can Fiji shock the Kiwis again, like they did in that famous 4-2 World Cup quarter-final in 2017?
New Zealand got revenge in 2022, winning a tense quarter-final 24-18 in Hull with a try in the final minute.
New Zealand vs Fiji is now one of the World Cup’s best rivalries.
New Zealand vs Fiji is on Saturday 31 October 2026 at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast, kicking off at 2:30pm local time (3:30pm Sydney, 4:30pm Fiji, 5:30pm NZ, 4:30am UK).
It’s a shootout for a semi-final place. Australia are already through, so the winner joins them, and a draw would send New Zealand through on points difference.
Below, you’ll find the kick-off time in every country, both teams, the head-to-head record, our prediction, the TV channels and tickets.
We’ll add both Round 3 team lists as soon as they’re named, any late changes on match day, and the result straight after full-time.
Quick Answer: New Zealand vs Fiji Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Saturday 31 October 2026
- Kick-off: 2:30pm Gold Coast, 3:30pm Sydney, 4:30pm Fiji, 5:30pm NZ, 4:30am UK
- Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
- Last meeting: New Zealand 24-18 Fiji, 2022 World Cup quarter-final
- Famous upset: Fiji 4-2 New Zealand, 2017 World Cup quarter-final
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is New Zealand vs Fiji?
New Zealand vs Fiji kicks off at 2:30pm Gold Coast time on Saturday 31 October.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Gold Coast, Brisbane | 2:30pm Saturday |
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 3:30pm Saturday |
| Fiji | 4:30pm Saturday |
| New Zealand | 5:30pm Saturday |
| UK | 4:30am Saturday |
Queensland doesn’t use daylight saving, so the Gold Coast is an hour behind Sydney.
It’s part of a big day at the stadium, with two women’s World Cup matches on the same ground.
It’s a late-afternoon start for fans in Fiji and an evening kick-off across New Zealand.
Kick-off times are as announced by the organisers and can change, so check again on match day.
New Zealand vs Fiji Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 27 October. Keano Kini starts at fullback for the Kiwis, with Kalyn Ponga out with a broken arm.
| No. | New Zealand | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keano Kini | Sunia Turuva |
| 2 | Jamayne Isaako | Ronald Philitoga |
| 3 | Dane Gagai | Waqa Blake |
| 4 | Casey McLean | Solomone Saukuru |
| 5 | Ronaldo Mulitalo | Semi Valemei |
| 6 | Kodi Nikorima | Kurt Donoghoe |
| 7 | Jahrome Hughes | Brandon Wakeham |
| 8 | James Fisher-Harris | Jacob Saifiti |
| 9 | Jeremy Marshall-King | Apisai Koroisau |
| 10 | Moses Leota | Emosi Ravosai |
| 11 | Isaiah Papali’i | Taane Milne |
| 12 | Briton Nikora | Kitione Kautoga |
| 13 | Joseph Tapine | Caleb Navale |
| 14 | Te Maire Martin | Josese Lanyon |
| 15 | Naufahu Whyte | Elijah Keung |
| 16 | Erin Clark | Jordan Miller |
| 17 | Xavier Willison | Joseph Litidamu |
Dane Gagai and Moses Leota return for New Zealand, and Isaiah Papali’i is back in the back row, as published on NRL.com.
For Fiji, Sunia Turuva moves to fullback, and Emosi Ravosai starts at prop. Late changes can still happen up to an hour before kick-off.
See every side as soon as it’s named on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
New Zealand Players to Watch
Jamayne Isaako scored a Kiwis record 38 points against the Cook Islands, and Keano Kini fills in for the injured Kalyn Ponga.
Jahrome Hughes controls the Kiwis’ kicking game from halfback.
Captain James Fisher-Harris leads a big pack with Joseph Tapine and Moses Leota.
Fiji Players to Watch
Captain Apisai Koroisau is Fiji’s key man at hooker, at his fourth World Cup.
Brandon Wakeham and Kurt Donoghoe share the halves.
Semi Valemei scored a hat-trick against Australia, and Kurt Donoghoe was Player of the Match in that game.
New Zealand vs Fiji Head to Head
The Kiwis and the Bati have met in two of the most dramatic World Cup knockout games of recent years.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | World Cup quarter-final, Hull | New Zealand 24-18 Fiji |
| 2017 | World Cup quarter-final, Wellington | Fiji 4-2 New Zealand |
In the 2017 quarter-final in Wellington, Fiji won 4-2 in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history.
In the 2022 quarter-final in Hull, New Zealand won 24-18, with Jordan Rapana scoring in the final minute.
That means both teams have one World Cup knockout win over the other, which adds plenty of spice.
New Zealand vs Fiji Prediction
New Zealand start as favourites, with more NRL stars and a stronger forward pack.
Fiji have shown they can beat the Kiwis when it matters, and they’ll have big support on the Gold Coast.
Our pick is New Zealand by eight to 14 points, but this one could be close.
Fiji pushed Australia hard in a 36-22 loss, so the Kiwis can’t take this one lightly.
A win would also give the Kiwis momentum heading into the knockout stage.
Where Is New Zealand vs Fiji Being Played?
The match is at Cbus Super Stadium in Robina, the home of the Gold Coast Titans.
The stadium holds around 27,000 fans and is one of the NRL’s most modern grounds.
Robina train station is next to the ground, with trains from Brisbane in about 75 minutes.
The Gold Coast has large Pacific communities, so expect loud support for the Bati.
Arrive early, as the area around the ground gets busy on big match days.
What Channel Is New Zealand vs Fiji On?
New Zealand vs Fiji is live in Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
- Australia: Free on the Seven Network and 7plus
- New Zealand: Sky Sport
- UK and Ireland: Premier Sports (subscription)
Fiji’s local broadcaster hasn’t been confirmed yet. We’ll add it here once it’s announced.
Following the Kiwis or the Bati from overseas? A VPN like NordVPN keeps your home streaming account working and protects you on public Wi-Fi. (We may earn a commission.)
For every other country, see our how to watch the Rugby League World Cup guide.
New Zealand vs Fiji Tickets
Tickets for New Zealand vs Fiji start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
Two women’s World Cup matches are also played at the stadium that day.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Fiji fans travel in big numbers, so the best seats are likely to go quickly.
Flying in for the match? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
New Zealand vs Fiji Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Saturday 31 October.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| New Zealand v Fiji, 31 October 2026 | To be played |
We’ll add the score and a short match report straight after full-time.
Every score from the tournament also goes on our results page, along with the latest table and the race for the semi-finals.
It’s the last round of the group stage, so this result could decide exactly which teams go through to the semi-finals in Newcastle and Sydney.
Match Updates
17 October 2026: Page published with kick-off times, Round 1 teams, the head-to-head record and our prediction.
29 October 2026: Added both Round 3 team lists, corrected the kick-off time to 3:30pm Sydney (4:30am UK), and added what’s at stake after Australia beat Fiji 36-22.
After full-time on 31 October, we’ll add the score and a short match report.
We’ll also add any late changes to either team on match day, so check back here in the hour before kick-off for the final 17s.
New Zealand vs Fiji: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about New Zealand vs Fiji.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is New Zealand vs Fiji rugby league?
2:30pm Gold Coast time on Saturday 31 October 2026.
That’s 3:30pm in Sydney, 4:30pm in Fiji and 5:30pm in New Zealand.
In the UK, it kicks off at 4:30am.
Where is New Zealand vs Fiji being played?
At Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast.
It’s the home ground of the Gold Coast Titans.
It’s Round 3, the last round of Pool A.
Did Fiji beat New Zealand at the World Cup?
Yes. Fiji beat New Zealand 4-2 in the 2017 World Cup quarter-final in Wellington.
New Zealand won the 2022 quarter-final 24-18.
So each team has one World Cup knockout win.
What channel is New Zealand vs Fiji on?
Sky Sport shows the match in New Zealand.
Seven and 7plus have it free in Australia.
Premier Sports shows it in the UK.
Conclusion
New Zealand vs Fiji on the Gold Coast on 31 October could decide a semi-final place.
The Kiwis are favourites, but Fiji have beaten them on the big stage before.
Bookmark this page for the team lists and the result.
Both teams have one famous World Cup knockout win over the other, so expect another classic.
Follow both teams on our Kiwis next game and Fiji next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
