Lebanon vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
Can France get revenge for 2017, or will Lebanon beat them again on the World Cup stage?
The last time they met at a World Cup, in Canberra in 2017, Lebanon won 29-18.
Both teams will be fighting for their World Cup lives in Western Sydney.
Lebanon vs France is on Sunday 1 November 2026 at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, kicking off at 5:40pm Sydney time (7:40pm NZ, 8:40am Lebanon, 7:40am France, 6:40am UK).
Both teams have lost twice and can’t reach the semi-finals, so they’re playing for pride and their first win. Tonga vs Samoa follows at the same ground.
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: Lebanon vs France Rugby League World Cup 2026
- Date: Sunday 1 November 2026
- Kick-off: 5:40pm Sydney, 8:40am Lebanon, 7:40am France, 6:40am UK
- Venue: CommBank Stadium, Parramatta
- Last World Cup meeting: Lebanon 29-18 France, 2017
- Double-header: Tonga vs Samoa follows at 8:05pm
- Watch: Seven and 7plus (Australia), Sky Sport (NZ), Premier Sports (UK)
What Time Is Lebanon vs France?
Lebanon vs France kicks off at 5:40pm Sydney time on Sunday 1 November.
| Where you are | Kick-off time |
|---|---|
| Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra | 5:40pm Sunday |
| Brisbane | 4:40pm Sunday |
| New Zealand | 7:40pm Sunday |
| Lebanon | 8:40am Sunday |
| France | 7:40am Sunday |
| UK | 6:40am Sunday |
It’s a breakfast-time kick-off in Lebanon, France and the UK, where clocks have gone back by then.
Tonga vs Samoa follows at 8:05pm, and Australia play Wales in the women’s World Cup earlier that afternoon.
Fans in Europe will need an early alarm, especially with the UK and France both on winter time by then.
Kick-off times are as announced by the organisers and can change, so check again on match day.
Lebanon vs France Team Lists
Both teams were named on Tuesday 27 October. Lebanon have lost Khaled Rajab (hamstring) for the rest of the tournament, so Joseph Nohra moves to five-eighth.
| No. | Lebanon | France |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jacob Kiraz | Arthur Mourgue |
| 2 | Tony Francis | Leo Darrelatour |
| 3 | Michael Gabrael | Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet |
| 4 | Jordan Samrani | Romeo Tropis |
| 5 | Jason Saab | Benjamin Laguerre |
| 6 | Joseph Nohra | Cesar Rouge |
| 7 | Alex Conti | Thomas Lacans |
| 8 | Jaxson Rahme | Romain Navarrete |
| 9 | Moustafa Dirani | Alrix Da Costa |
| 10 | James Roumanos | Julian Bousquet |
| 11 | Tony Sukkar | Mathieu Cozza |
| 12 | Abbas Miski | Mathieu Jussaume |
| 13 | Alex Twal | Benjamin Garcia |
| 14 | Yehya Ayache | Amir Bourouh |
| 15 | Tupou Francis | Lambert Belmas |
| 16 | Jalal Bazzaz | Jordan Dezaria |
| 17 | Khalil Rahme | Jowasa Drodrolagi |
Moustafa Dirani starts at hooker for Lebanon, as published on NRL.com.
France lose Latrell Siegwalt to a shoulder injury. Cesar Rouge returns at five-eighth and Alrix Da Costa starts at hooker.
See every side as soon as it’s named on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 team lists page.
Lebanon Players to Watch
Jacob Kiraz is Lebanon’s most dangerous attacking player, at fullback.
Captain Alex Twal leads the pack at his second World Cup.
Alex Conti starts at halfback, with Jason Saab adding pace on the wing.
France Players to Watch
Captain Benjamin Garcia plays hooker at his fourth World Cup.
Arthur Mourgue, Cesar Rouge and Thomas Lacans make up France’s spine this week.
NRL-based centre Latrell Siegwalt misses out with a shoulder injury.
Lebanon vs France Head to Head
Lebanon and France met in the group stage of the 2017 World Cup in Canberra.
| Year | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | World Cup pool match, Canberra | Lebanon 29-18 France |
Lebanon won 29-18 that day, in one of the best results in the Cedars’ history.
France have plenty of Super League experience, with most of their squad from Catalans and Toulouse.
Lebanon have more NRL players, so expect a clash of styles in Parramatta.
This is only their second World Cup meeting, so the 2017 result is the main guide for fans.
Lebanon vs France Prediction
Lebanon start as slight favourites, with more NRL players and huge support in Western Sydney.
France are well organised and hard to break down, so this should be close.
Our pick is Lebanon by four to 10 points.
Lebanon lost 42-18 to PNG and 36-0 to Tonga, while France lost 78-4 to Samoa and 82-0 to England.
Neither team can reach the semi-finals, so this is about pride and avoiding a winless World Cup.
Where Is Lebanon vs France Being Played?
The match is at CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, the home of the Parramatta Eels.
The stadium holds around 30,000 fans and is a short walk from Parramatta train station.
Western Sydney has one of the world’s largest Lebanese communities, so expect a home crowd for the Cedars.
It’s the second game of the night, with Tonga vs Samoa straight after.
Get there early, as the double-header is expected to draw a big crowd.
What Channel Is Lebanon vs France On?
Lebanon vs France 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)
Local broadcasters in Lebanon and France haven’t been confirmed yet. We’ll add them once they’re announced.
Following Lebanon or France 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.
Lebanon vs France Tickets
Tickets for Lebanon vs France start from $19 AUD on Ticketmaster, the official seller.
It’s a double-header with Tonga vs Samoa, which NRL.com reports has already sold out.
Buy only from Ticketmaster, as resale tickets from other sites may not be valid.
Book early, as tickets for this double-header are in high demand.
Flying in for the match? An Australia eSIM from Airalo keeps your phone working from the moment you land.
Lebanon vs France Result
The match hasn’t been played yet. It kicks off on Sunday 1 November.
| Match | Score |
|---|---|
| Lebanon v France, 1 November 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 and Round 2 results, and corrected the kick-off time to 5:40pm Sydney (6:40am UK).
After full-time on 1 November, 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.
Lebanon vs France: FAQ
Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about Lebanon vs France.
Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.
For full details, see the sections above.
What time is Lebanon vs France rugby league?
5:40pm Sydney time on Sunday 1 November 2026.
That’s 8:40am in Lebanon, 7:40am in France and 6:40am in the UK.
It’s Round 3 for both teams.
Where is Lebanon vs France being played?
At CommBank Stadium in Parramatta, Western Sydney.
Tonga vs Samoa follows at the same ground.
The stadium holds around 30,000 fans.
When did Lebanon last play France at a World Cup?
At the 2017 World Cup in Canberra.
Lebanon won 29-18.
It was a group-stage match.
What channel is Lebanon vs France on?
Seven and 7plus show it free in Australia.
Sky Sport has it in New Zealand, and Premier Sports in the UK.
Local broadcasters in Lebanon and France are still to be confirmed.
Conclusion
Lebanon vs France in Parramatta on 1 November is a rematch of their 2017 World Cup clash.
Lebanon have the crowd and the NRL experience, but France will be hard to beat.
Bookmark this page for the team lists and the result.
With Tonga vs Samoa straight after, it’s one of the biggest nights of the tournament in Sydney.
Follow both teams on our Lebanon next game and France next game pages, and visit rlwc2026.com for official news.
