2026 Rugby League World Cup Line-up Finalized
The line-up for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup is now confirmed, with the Cook Islands securing the last spot following a decisive 58-6 play-off win against South Africa in Sydney.
Qualified Nations
The ten nations competing in the men’s 2026 Rugby League World Cup have been finalized. Among them, the Cook Islands earned their place with a strong performance to clinch the final berth.
Qualifying Process Overview
The Cook Islands (Asia-Pacific), Jamaica (Americas), and South Africa (Middle East-Africa) automatically advanced to the second round of qualifying as the only full IRL member nations in their confederations.
France secured their World Cup spot by winning the European first round qualifying campaign last autumn.
Originally, a World Series tournament involving four nations was planned to determine two remaining World Cup places, but due to the lack of suitable hosting bids, the decision was made to hold two play-off matches across hemispheres instead.
Play-off Matches
- France dominated Jamaica 36-0 in Albi last month to confirm their World Cup place.
- In the Southern Hemisphere play-off, the Cook Islands overcame South Africa with a commanding 58-6 victory in Sydney, grabbing the final World Cup spot.
Summary
The Cook Islands' impressive win sealed the last berth in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, completing the list of competing nations for the tournament next autumn.
Author’s Summary
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup line-up is complete, with the Cook Islands claiming the final spot through a strong play-off win, finalizing the ten qualified nations.
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