Rugby League World Cup 2030: Hosts, Bids and Format

When is the next Rugby League World Cup, once the 2026 tournament ends in Brisbane on 15 November?

Fans are already asking where the game’s biggest event will go next, and the answer is still being decided by the International Rugby League (IRL).

The next Rugby League World Cup is in 2030. No host has been named yet, but the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments will be held together again, just like in 2026.

Kenya, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and the USA were named as bidders for the men’s tournament in 2024, and the IRL is still reviewing its options.

Below, you’ll find everything we know about the 2030 hosts, bidders, format, qualifying and timing.

We’ll update this page as soon as the IRL names the host.

When Is the Next Rugby League World Cup?

The next Rugby League World Cup is in 2030, four years after this one.

The IRL confirmed in August 2023 that the men’s World Cup would stay on a four-year cycle.

It’s expected to be played in October and November 2030, the same time of year as the 2026 tournament.

That will make it the 18th men’s Rugby League World Cup. The first was in France in 1954, and the last was in England in 2022.

Who Will Host the Rugby League World Cup 2030?

The IRL hasn’t named a host for the Rugby League World Cup 2030 yet.

It received 13 hosting tenders for its men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cups, but said none offered proper value as standalone events.

After that review, it decided to keep all three tournaments together in 2030, as they are in Australia and PNG this year.

No date has been set for the host announcement, so it may not come until after the 2026 World Cup.

Which Countries Are Bidding for 2030?

In July 2024, the IRL named five bidders for the 2030 men’s World Cup.

Country	World Cup history
Kenya	Would be the first World Cup in Africa
New Zealand	Co-hosted the 2017 World Cup
Papua New Guinea	Co-hosting games at the 2026 World Cup
South Africa	Bid for the 2017 World Cup
USA	Was given the 2025 World Cup, later withdrawn

PNG is keen to host on its own after sharing the 2026 tournament with Australia.

South Africa have played at two World Cups, in 1995 and 2000, while Kenya and the USA have never hosted a World Cup match.

The IRL has changed its plans since then, so the final list of candidates could look different.

What Is the Rugby League World Cup 2030 Format?

The 2030 World Cup will keep the same format as 2026, with the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments played at the same time.

At the 2026 World Cup, that means 10 men’s teams, eight women’s teams and eight wheelchair teams, across Australia and PNG.

IRL chair Troy Grant said: “The World Cups for 2030 will be Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair.”

The exact number of teams for 2030 hasn’t been confirmed yet.

Will the Women’s and Wheelchair World Cups Be in 2030?

Yes. The IRL had planned a separate Women’s World Cup in 2028 and a Wheelchair World Cup in 2029.

In December 2025, it scrapped that plan and moved both tournaments to 2030, alongside the men’s event.

That means there won’t be a Women’s World Cup in 2028 or a Wheelchair World Cup in 2029.

Fans will get all three together again, just like this year. See this year’s women’s games in our Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2026 guide.

How Do Teams Qualify for the 2030 World Cup?

Only IRL Full Members can play at the World Cup. Ghana recently became a Full Member, so it’s now eligible to qualify too.

Qualifying for the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments was set to start after the IRL’s decision in December 2025.

The IRL hasn’t published the full 2030 qualifying rules yet, but its world rankings are expected to play a part.

See where every nation sits now in our Rugby League World Rankings 2026 guide.

Could the Rugby League World Cup Go to Africa or the USA?

Yes, it’s possible. Kenya and South Africa were both on the 2024 list of bidders.

A World Cup in Africa would be a first for the sport, and Ghana’s new status shows how fast the game is growing there.

The USA and Canada were given the 2025 World Cup, but the hosting rights were later withdrawn.

A US bid would give the IRL a big new market, but the costs of hosting are a major hurdle.

Rugby League World Cup 2030: FAQ

Here are quick answers to the questions fans ask most about the next Rugby League World Cup.

Each answer starts with the key fact, so you can find it fast.

For the full details, see the sections above.

Where is the next Rugby League World Cup?

The 2030 host hasn’t been named yet.

Kenya, New Zealand, PNG, South Africa and the USA bid in 2024.

We’ll update this page when the IRL announces the host.

Is the Rugby League World Cup every four years?

Yes. The men’s World Cup is on a four-year cycle.

The 2021 tournament was played in 2022 because of COVID-19.

After 2026, the next one is in 2030.

When will the 2030 host be announced?

The IRL hasn’t set a date.

It was still reviewing 13 tenders in December 2025.

An announcement could come after the 2026 World Cup.

Will the 2030 World Cup have more teams?

That hasn’t been confirmed.

The IRL says 2030 will keep the 2026 format.

In 2026, there are 10 men’s, eight women’s and eight wheelchair teams.

Conclusion

The next Rugby League World Cup is in 2030, and the IRL hasn’t named the host yet.

Kenya, New Zealand, PNG, South Africa and the USA were the bidders named in 2024, and the men’s, women’s and wheelchair events will be held together again.

Before then, there’s a World Cup final to play in Brisbane on 15 November 2026.

See how the tournament has grown since 1954 in our Rugby League World Cup history guide, and bookmark this page for the 2030 host news.

Want our World Cup updates first? Add RLWC 2026 Guide as a preferred source on Google.