Rugby League World Cup 2026 Teams and Squads
It’s 2026, and the Rugby League World Cup is back, with three tournaments hosted across Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
If you’re a rugby league fan, the first thing you’ll want to know is simple: which teams are actually playing?
The 10 men’s teams at RLWC 2026 are Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Lebanon, France and the Cook Islands.
They’re joined by 8 women’s teams and 8 wheelchair teams, making 26 teams across the three World Cups.
It’s a tighter, more competitive lineup than ever before in the history of the Rugby League World Cup, so every match matters.
Below, we cover every team and group, plus how to watch the tournament and where to get tickets.
Rugby League World Cup Squads 2026
All 10 teams in the men’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 have now named their squads, with Lebanon the last to confirm on 7 October.
Click any team to see every player, their club and the key names.
| Team | Group | Squad named |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Kangaroos squad | A | 5 October |
| New Zealand Kiwis squad | A | 6 October |
| Fiji Bati squad | A | 5 October |
| Cook Islands Aitu squad | A | 6 October |
| England squad | B | 5 October |
| Toa Samoa squad | B | 6 October |
| Lebanon Cedars squad | B | 7 October |
| Mate Ma’a Tonga squad | C | Final 23 confirmed 9 October |
| PNG Kumuls squad | C | 6 October |
| France squad | C | 1 October |
Women’s squads: see the Jillaroos, Kiwi Ferns and England Women squads.
Want to know where your club’s players are? See our Super League players list.
Rugby League World Cup 2026 Teams List
The Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 features 10 teams in total, divided into three groups.
The last time in 2021, the Rugby League World Cup had 16 teams, so these teams are fewer than the last time.
International Rugby League (IRL) officials wanted to make the tournament more interesting and the best of the good teams.
The result? A lineup packed with the very best rugby league nations on Earth.
8 teams qualified straight for the RLWC 2026. Those eight automatic qualifiers are Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, and Lebanon.
However, the final two spots were decided through qualifying tournaments. France earned their place by defeating Jamaica.
On the other hand, the Cook Islands clinched the last spot with an emphatic 58-6 victory over South Africa.
So the 10 confirmed men’s teams for the Rugby League World Cup 2026 are:
- Australia (Kangaroos) | Defending Champions
- New Zealand (Kiwis)
- England
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Papua New Guinea (Kumuls)
- Fiji (Bati)
- Lebanon (Cedars)
- France (Les Chanticleers)
- Cook Islands
These 10 nations have been drawn into three groups, one group of four and two groups of three, for the RLWC 2026 group stage.
The Group with their respective teams in them are mentioned below.
You’ll also see these groups called pools, as in Pool A, Pool B and Pool C, in the official RLWC 2026 draw. See the full draw for all three tournaments in our RLWC 2026 schedule and draw.
Group A | Australia, New Zealand, Cook Islands, Fiji
Group A is the group with 4 teams in it, which are Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, and Fiji
Group A is widely considered the group of death or the most powerful group at the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
It has four teams, including the two most decorated nations in rugby league World Cup history.
1) Australia
Australia (The Kangaroos) are the defending Rugby League World Cup champions.
They are the most successful team in World Cup history, and they go into 2026 as favourites to win it again.
2) New Zealand
New Zealand (The Kiwis) is also dangerous. They won the 2025 Pacific Cup Championship, which shows they are in brilliant form heading into this tournament.
New Zealand vs. Australia is one of the great rivalries in all of sports, like rugby and also in Cricket.
3) Fiji
Fiji (The Bati) are the exciting wildcards of Group A.
Fiji shocked plenty of people in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup with their skilful, offload-heavy style of play. See every player named so far in our Fiji rugby league World Cup squad guide.
4) Cook Islands
Cook Islands are the newest members of the Rugby League World Cup 2026 party.
They got their spot in the RLWC 2026 just months ago with that big win over South Africa. Follow their team news on our Cook Islands World Cup squad page.
In Group A, all four teams play against each other; every team gets three group stage matches. The top two teams from Group A advance to the semi-finals.
Group B | England, Lebanon, and Samoa
Group B has three teams: England, Lebanon and Samoa.
Group B is one of the most intriguing groups at the Rugby League World Cup 2026, featuring three very different rugby league stories.
1) England
England is going to enter the 2026 Rugby League World Cup with a fresh face.
They have a new head coach in Brian McDermott, who named his 23-man squad on 5 October.
England has been underperforming at recent World Cups, but have genuine quality in their squad. See the latest names on our England rugby league World Cup squad page.
2) Samoa
Samoa is also considered one of the best competitors in the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
Samoa reached the 2021 Rugby League World Cup Final and has some of the most electrifying players in the game. Follow the latest team news on our Samoa rugby league World Cup squad page.
3) Lebanon
Lebanon (The Cedars) is a team with a great story. They have united fans and players through some incredibly difficult times.
Most importantly, the 2026 Lebanon squad will not include any domestic-based players due to the ongoing conflict back home.
But the players who do represent Lebanon will carry the pride of their nation with them every time they take the field. See the latest on our Lebanon Cedars World Cup squad page.
Group B teams will have to play against Group C teams in the Rugby League World Cup 2026.
This crossover format is unique and makes every match matter even more.
Group C | France, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga
Group C also has 3 Teams in it: France, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga
Group C brings together three nations that give the Rugby League World Cup 2026 its true international flavor.
1) Tonga
Tonga (Mate Ma’a Tonga) also has a great past and great performances in past rugby league World Cups.
Specifically, their performances at the 2017 and 2021 Rugby League World Cups turned them from underdogs into genuine stars of the sport.
2) Papua New Guinea
For Papua New Guinea (The Kumuls), it’s like they are playing in their own backyard, literally.
Some Rugby League World Cup 2026 matches are being hosted in Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is loved so much by locals.
Papua New Guinea will have a great advantage in this RLWC 2026.
3) France
France competed and got their way through European qualifying to get a spot in the Rugby League World Cup. See all 23 players on our France World Cup squad page.
Because Group B and Group C teams play each other in the crossover format, England, Lebanon, and Samoa will each face France, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga.
The top two combined finishers from Groups B and C advance to the semi-finals.
How Many Teams Are in the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 is the 17th edition of the Men’s Rugby League tournament.
It was basically supposed to be held in France in 2025, but France withdrew as hosts in May 2023 due to some financial concerns.
Then, in July 2024, Australia was confirmed as the replacement host of the Rugby League World Cup.
The 2026 edition is special because it runs three full World Cups simultaneously, which are Men’s, Women’s, and Wheelchair.
There are 26 total teams, 53 total matches, and nine host cities spread across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
How to Watch the Rugby League World Cup 2026
It is not mandatory to be in Australia to watch the upcoming Rugby League World Cup. You can watch it from anywhere.
Living in Australia, you can watch every single match of the Men’s, Women’s, and Wheelchair Rugby tournament on Channel Seven.
It is also going to be available on their streaming platform 7Plus.
Seven Network secured the broadcasting rights in a $12 million deal confirmed in October 2025.
In New Zealand, Sky Sport holds the broadcast rights. You can watch via a Sky subscription on TV or through Sky Sport Now.
In the United Kingdom and Ireland, Premier Sports has exclusive rights and shows every match of the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments live. A Premier Sports subscription is required.
For international fans outside these regions, WatchNRL (watchnrl.com) is the best option to watch the Rugby League World Cup.
How to Buy Rugby League World Cup 2026 Tickets?
This is another one of the most asked questions by Rugby fans about where to or how to buy the RLWC 2026 tickets.
You can buy tickets through Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.com.au) or via the official RLWC2026 website (rlwc2026.com). For prices by match, venue details and how to avoid scam sellers, read our step-by-step guide to buying RLWC 2026 tickets.
The Prices start from just $19 AUD for adults and $49 AUD for families for group stage and semi-final matches.
Grand Final is going to take place in Suncorp Stadium, starting from $39 AUD for adults and $109 AUD for families.
However, children aged 3 and under get in free on a knee.
Conclusion
There are 10 teams in the men’s Rugby League World Cup 2026, split into three groups.
They are Australia, New Zealand, England, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Lebanon, France and the Cook Islands.
Group A is Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands, while the Group B and Group C teams play each other in a crossover format.
All 10 men’s squads have now been named. Check who’s missing on our Rugby League World Cup 2026 injury list.
The tournament runs from 15 October to 15 November 2026. Find every match in your time zone in our kick-off times guide.
In Australia, every match is free on the Seven Network and 7plus, and in New Zealand it’s on Sky Sport. See our how to watch guide for other countries.
Want to be there in person? Tickets start from $19 AUD, and our tickets guide shows where to buy safely.
The Rugby League World Cup 2026 is almost here. Make sure you’re ready for it.
