The Rugby League World Cup Men's Final captains, Australia's James Tedesco & Samoa's Junior Paulo. Photo: SWPix / www.photoport.nz
Australia and New Zealand loom large for Fiji and the Cook Islands at the 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup (RLWC)/
The tournament will be played across Australia, Papua New Guinea and a handful of matches in Christchurch. The women's and men's wheelchair World Cups are also part of the event.
The Fiji Bati and the Cook Islands Aitu are in men's group A alongside the two heavyweights, after the draws for the tournament were made at the weekend.
Australia are the defending champions, beating Samoa 30-10 in the 2021 final (held in 2022 due to covid), and winners of nine of the past 10 World Cups.
New Zealand has just claimed the Pacific Cup.
The Kangaroos and Kiwis will kick off the men's tournament in Sydney on 15 October 2026.
Samoa is in group B with England and Lebanon. Samoa was the surprise of the previous tournament, upsetting England in the semifinal.
Photo: AFP / Oli Scarff
Samoa's World Cup claims are strengthened when it is considered that Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Shawn Blore missed this year's Pacific Championships, while Jeremiah Nanai was ruled out of the final.
"It's very exciting, we have got bigger and better things coming up ahead,"star winger Brian To'o said. "We are looking towards the future so I can't wait."
Tonga and Papua New Guinea are in group C with France. Tonga downed New Zealand 27-26 to qualify for the 2024 Pacific Cup final, losing the decider 20-14 to Australia.
Tonga are also set to be boosted by the return of second-rower Haumole Olakau'atu and centre Moses Suli for the World Cup, while prop Stefano Utoikamanu played only a handful of minutes in the Pacific Championships.
The PNG Kumuls will host Lebanon on 17 October and Samoa on 24 October, before travelling to Wollongong to meet England on 30 October.
Kumuls coach Jason Demetriou said the focus of this year's Pacific Bowl campaign had been preparing for the World Cup.
"The Kumuls group we have now is exciting, but what comes after that is just as thrilling. If we can develop these players correctly, PNG can be very strong on home soil in the World Cup."
Group A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in group A. Group B and C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group.
The top two teams from group A will progress to the semi-finals, while the top two teams from a combined table of groups B and C will also progress.
International Rugby League chair Troy Grant said the international game has never been more competitive.
"There will be genuine superstars across all groups and stages in this tournament."
Women's World Cup
The women's competition sees Samoa in Pool A with Australia, England and Wales; while Fiji is in Pool B with New Zealand, PNG and France.
Each team will play three matches against the other teams in their group.
The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals.
Women's group matches will be played across Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Wollongong and Gold Coast.
Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane will host both the men's and women's finals on Sunday, 15 November.
Wheelchair World Cup
The eight-team wheelchair tournament features two groups of four, with all games at Wollongong's WIN Entertainment Centre.
Group A has England, Ireland, Wales and USA, and group B comprises France, Australia, Scotland and New Zealand.
The wheelchair final will be on Friday, 13 November.
