Australia go in search of a 12th World Cup title when they come up against first-time finalists Samoa in the final at Old Trafford on Saturday night.
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The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is coming home to Australia. Running from October 15 to November 15, 2026, the tournament features 10 men’s teams across venues in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. The Kangaroos open as defending champions and overwhelming favourites on home soil.
At BettingPro, our rugby league experts will provide free RLWC 2026 betting tips, odds and predictions for every match of the tournament. From the blockbuster opening clash between Australia and New Zealand in Sydney to the final at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, we’ve got you covered.
| Detail | Info |
| Dates | October 15 – November 15, 2026 |
| Host Nations | Australia (primary), New Zealand, Papua New Guinea |
| Teams | 10 (Men’s). Also 6 Women’s + 8 Wheelchair teams |
| Defending Champion | Australia (won 2022 in England) |
| Opening Match | Australia vs New Zealand — Allianz Stadium, Sydney (Oct 15) |
| Final | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (Nov 15) |
| AU Broadcast | Channel 7 + 7plus (free-to-air) |
| Tickets | From $19 via Ticketmaster |
The 10 teams are split into three pools. Pool A features the two heavyweights (Australia and New Zealand) plus Fiji and Cook Islands. Pools B and C play inter-pool matches, with teams from each pool facing all three teams in the opposite pool.
| Pool A | Pool B | Pool C |
| Australia | England | France |
| New Zealand | Lebanon | Papua New Guinea |
| Fiji | Samoa | Tonga |
| Cook Islands |
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct 15 | Australia vs New Zealand | Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| Oct 16 | Samoa vs France | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta |
| Oct 17 | Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon | PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
| Oct 17 | England vs Tonga | HBF Park, Perth |
| Oct 18 | Fiji vs Cook Islands | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct 23 | Tonga vs Lebanon | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta |
| Oct 24 | Papua New Guinea vs Samoa | PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby |
| Oct 24 | England vs France | HBF Park, Perth |
| Oct 25 | New Zealand vs Cook Islands | Te Kaha, Christchurch |
| Oct 25 | Australia vs Fiji | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
| Date | Match | Venue |
| Oct 30 | England vs Papua New Guinea | WIN Stadium, Wollongong |
| Oct 31 | New Zealand vs Fiji | Robina Stadium, Gold Coast |
| Oct 31 | Australia vs Cook Islands | Qld Country Bank Stadium, Townsville |
| Nov 1 | Lebanon vs France | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta |
| Nov 1 | Tonga vs Samoa | CommBank Stadium, Parramatta |
| Stage | Date | Match | Venue |
| Semi-Final 1 | Nov 7 | Pool A Runner-Up vs Pool B/C Winner | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle |
| Semi-Final 2 | Nov 8 | Pool A Winner vs Pool B/C Runner-Up | Allianz Stadium, Sydney |
| FINAL | Nov 15 | SF1 Winner vs SF2 Winner | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane |
The Kangaroos enter as defending champions after winning the 2022 World Cup in England, defeating Samoa 30-10 in the final. Playing on home soil for the first time since 2008, Australia are overwhelming favourites to retain the trophy.
Australia’s Pool A campaign begins with a blockbuster opening night against trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Sydney on October 15. They then face Fiji in Brisbane (Oct 25) and Cook Islands in Townsville (Oct 31).
With the Penrith Panthers dominating the 2026 NRL season, several Panthers stars are expected to feature prominently in the Kangaroos squad. The squad will be announced after the NRL Grand Final in early October.
For more on the NRL and State of Origin, visit our NRL hub.
Australia vs New Zealand (Oct 15, Sydney): The opening match and the biggest rivalry in rugby league. The Kangaroos and Kiwis have contested some of the greatest World Cup matches in history. Expect a sell-out at Allianz Stadium.
England vs Tonga (Oct 17, Perth): Tonga have emerged as a genuine force in international rugby league. This Pool B/C cross-pool clash could determine semi-final seedings.
Papua New Guinea vs Samoa (Oct 24, Port Moresby): PNG playing at home in front of their passionate fans is always electric. Rugby league is the national sport of Papua New Guinea.
Tonga vs Samoa (Nov 1, Parramatta): The Pacific Island derby. Two of the fastest-rising nations going head-to-head with semi-final implications on the line.
The Final (Nov 15, Brisbane): Suncorp Stadium hosts the decider. Can anyone deny the Kangaroos on home soil?
Tournament Winner: Back a nation to win the World Cup. Australia are short-priced favourites, with New Zealand, England, Samoa and Tonga the main challengers.
Pool Winner: Predict which team will top each pool. Pool A is a straight fight between Australia and New Zealand.
Match Winner: Back the winner of individual pool and knockout matches.
Line Betting: Points handicap for each match.
First Tryscorer / Anytime Tryscorer: Back a player to score in each match.
Top Tournament Try Scorer: Predict the leading scorer across the entire tournament.
Same Game Multi: Combine match winner, tryscorer and total points from the same RLWC match. Check our same game multi tips page.
| Venue | City | Country | Capacity |
| Allianz Stadium | Sydney | Australia | 42,500 |
| Suncorp Stadium (Final) | Brisbane | Australia | 52,500 |
| CommBank Stadium | Parramatta | Australia | 30,000 |
| McDonald Jones Stadium | Newcastle | Australia | 33,000 |
| HBF Park | Perth | Australia | 20,500 |
| Robina Stadium | Gold Coast | Australia | 27,400 |
| Qld Country Bank Stadium | Townsville | Australia | 25,455 |
| WIN Stadium | Wollongong | Australia | 23,750 |
| Te Kaha | Christchurch | New Zealand | 30,000 |
| PNG Football Stadium | Port Moresby | Papua New Guinea | 14,800 |
For NRL and rugby league coverage, visit our NRL hub. Compare all bookmakers on our best betting sites guide.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Host |
| 2022 | Australia | Samoa | England |
| 2017 | Australia | England | Australia/NZ/PNG |
| 2013 | Australia | New Zealand | England/Wales/France |
| 2008 | New Zealand | Australia | Australia |
| 2000 | Australia | New Zealand | UK/France |
| 1995 | Australia | England | UK |
| 1992 | Australia | Great Britain | UK/France |
| 1988 | Australia | New Zealand | New Zealand |
When is the Rugby League World Cup 2026?
October 15 to November 15, 2026.
Where is the 2026 RLWC?
Hosted across Australia (8 venues), New Zealand (Christchurch) and Papua New Guinea (Port Moresby). The final is at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
What channel is the RLWC on in Australia?
Channel 7 and 7plus. All matches free-to-air.
How many teams are in the 2026 RLWC?
10 men’s teams, 6 women’s teams, and 8 wheelchair teams.
Who are the favourites?
Australia are defending champions and overwhelming favourites on home soil. New Zealand, England, Samoa and Tonga are the main challengers.
How much are tickets?
From $19 via Ticketmaster Australia.
What is the RLWC 2026 draw?
Pool A: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands. Pool B: England, Lebanon, Samoa. Pool C: France, Papua New Guinea, Tonga.
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