RLWC 2026 Schedule: Every Match, Date, and Venue

The Rugby League World Cup 2026 runs from 15 October to 15 November 2026, spread across host venues in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Below is the full fixture list for the tournament, updated as pool matches, semi-finals, and the grand final are confirmed.

Last updated: July 26, 2026

📅 RLWC 2026 Key Dates at a Glance

  • Opening match: 15 October 2026 — Australia vs New Zealand, Sydney
  • Group stage: 15 October – 1 November 2026
  • Semi-finals: 7–8 November 2026
  • Grand final: 15 November 2026 — Brisbane
  • Total matches: 52 across men’s, women’s, and wheelchair tournaments

🗓️ Full RLWC 2026 Schedule (Times in AEDT)

All times below are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Convert to your local time zone using the link below the table.

DateTime (AEDT)MatchVenueCityStage
15 Oct 202620:05Australia vs New ZealandSydney Football StadiumSydneyPool A
16 Oct 202617:45Samoa vs FranceWestern Sydney StadiumSydneyPool B/C
17 Oct 202617:25Papua New Guinea vs LebanonPNG Football StadiumPort MoresbyPool B/C
17 Oct 202620:05England vs TongaPerth Rectangular StadiumPerthPool B/C
18 Oct 202616:05Fiji vs Cook IslandsNewcastle Int. Sports CentreNewcastlePool A
23 Oct 202620:05Tonga vs LebanonWestern Sydney StadiumSydneyPool B/C
24 Oct 202617:25Papua New Guinea vs SamoaPNG Football StadiumPort MoresbyPool B/C
24 Oct 202617:35England vs FrancePerth Rectangular StadiumPerthPool B/C
25 Oct 202617:05New Zealand vs Cook IslandsTe Kaha StadiumChristchurchPool A
25 Oct 202620:05Australia vs FijiLang ParkBrisbanePool A
30 Oct 202620:05England vs Papua New GuineaWollongong ShowgroundWollongongPool B/C
31 Oct 202615:45New Zealand vs FijiRobina StadiumGold CoastPool A
31 Oct 202620:05Australia vs Cook IslandsNorth Queensland StadiumTownsvillePool A
1 Nov 202617:50Lebanon vs FranceWestern Sydney StadiumSydneyPool B/C
1 Nov 202620:05Tonga vs SamoaWestern Sydney StadiumSydneyPool B/C
7 Nov 202620:05Pool A Runner-up vs Pool B/C WinnerNewcastle Int. Sports CentreNewcastleSemi-final
8 Nov 202620:05Pool A Winner vs Pool B/C Runner-upSydney Football StadiumSydneySemi-final
15 Nov 202619:35Grand FinalLang ParkBrisbaneFinal

Use a time zone converter to check kickoff times in your own region.

🏆 Group Stage Breakdown

The men’s pool phase is split into three rounds before the tournament moves to the knockout stage.

Round 1 — 15 to 18 October

  • 15 Oct — Australia vs New Zealand (Sydney)
  • 16 Oct — Samoa vs France (Sydney)
  • 17 Oct — Papua New Guinea vs Lebanon (Port Moresby)
  • 17 Oct — England vs Tonga (Perth)
  • 18 Oct — Fiji vs Cook Islands (Newcastle)

The tournament opener between Australia and New Zealand headlines round one and sets an early benchmark for the competition.

Round 2 — 23 to 25 October

  • 23 Oct — Tonga vs Lebanon (Sydney)
  • 24 Oct — Papua New Guinea vs Samoa (Port Moresby)
  • 24 Oct — England vs France (Perth)
  • 25 Oct — New Zealand vs Cook Islands (Christchurch)
  • 25 Oct — Australia vs Fiji (Brisbane)

Round two sharpens the race for qualification, with several pool positions still open heading into the final group round.

Round 3 — 30 October to 1 November

  • 30 Oct — England vs Papua New Guinea (Wollongong)
  • 31 Oct — New Zealand vs Fiji (Gold Coast)
  • 31 Oct — Australia vs Cook Islands (Townsville)
  • 1 Nov — Lebanon vs France (Sydney)
  • 1 Nov — Tonga vs Samoa (Sydney)

This closing round of pool play decides which sides progress to the semi-finals.

🔥 Knockout Stage

  • Semi-final 1: 7 November 2026 — Newcastle International Sports Centre
  • Semi-final 2: 8 November 2026 — Sydney Football Stadium
  • Grand Final: 15 November 2026 — Lang Park, Brisbane

The final at Lang Park in Brisbane closes out the tournament, bringing together the two top-performing sides from the semi-finals.

🌍 Host Cities

Matches are staged across nine cities in three countries, giving fans in multiple regions a chance to attend in person:

  • Sydney
  • Newcastle
  • Wollongong
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Townsville
  • Perth
  • Christchurch
  • Port Moresby

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

When does RLWC 2026 start and end?

The tournament begins 15 October 2026 with Australia vs New Zealand in Sydney, and concludes with the grand final on 15 November 2026 in Brisbane.

How many matches are played in total?

52 matches are played across the men’s, women’s, and wheelchair tournaments.

Where is the RLWC 2026 final held?

The final is scheduled for Lang Park, Brisbane, on 15 November 2026.

What time zone are the match times listed in?

All times on this page are shown in AEDT (Australian Eastern Daylight Time). Use a time zone converter for your local kickoff time.

This page is independently maintained and not affiliated with the official Rugby League World Cup 2026 organization. Always confirm ticketing and official match details on the official RLWC2026 site.