How to Watch the Rugby League World Cup in Australia

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is set to light up stadiums and screen across Australia this month, bringing together the best men's, women's and wheelchair rugby league nations. 

Prominently set to be hosted Down Under, some matches will also take place in Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, helping to facilitate a tournament that promises a month of blockbuster fixtures, fierce rivalries and has plenty of silverware up for grabs. 

For all the locals looking to get their footy fix now that the NRL has wrapped for another season, here's everything you need to know about how to watch the Rugby League World Cup in Australia. 

How to Watch the Rugby League World Cup in Australia

Good news for Aussie rugby league fans: the entire tournament will be broadcast live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport. 

Seven holds exclusive Australian broadcast rights to the tournament, covering 18 men's matches, 15 women's matches and 20 wheelchair matches, so there's no need for a subscription or pay-per-view purchase to catch the action.

Simply tune in to Channel 7 on your television or stream every match live via the 7plus app or website on your phone, tablet, laptop or smart TV. 

Whether you're settling in at home or following along on the go, you won't miss a tackle, try or conversion throughout the tournament.

What Time Does the Rugby League World Cup Start in Australia

The tournament kicks off on Thursday 15 October 2026, with the men's opening match pitting Australia against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 8:05pm AEDT, giving fans plenty of time to settle in after work for a trans-Tasman clash to remember.

The women's tournament gets underway the following night, Friday 16 October, with hosts Australia taking on Samoa at CommBank Stadium. That match is also set for an 8:05pm AEDT start.

From there, the tournament runs for a full month, concluding with the Grand Finals at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 15 November 2026. 

The Women's Grand Final kicks off at 4:10pm AEDT, followed by the men's Grand Final at 7:35pm AEDT, capping off a massive day of finals footy. 

All times listed throughout this article are in AEDT, so be sure to adjust accordingly if you're tuning in from another time zone.

Rugby League World Cup Schedule and Draw

The men's tournament features ten nations split across three pools. Pool A includes host nation Australia alongside New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands - arguably the tournament's group of death, given the strength of the Kangaroos and Kiwis. 

Pool B consists of England, Samoa and Lebanon, while Pool C rounds out the men's draw with Tonga, Papua New Guinea and France.

On the women's side, two pools of four will battle for finals contention. Pool A features Australia, England, Samoa and Wales, while Pool B is made up of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France and Fiji.

With matches spread across Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand, fans can expect a genuine international flavour to the tournament, even as the bulk of the action and both Grand Finals take place on Australian soil. 

Expect blockbuster pool clashes in the opening fortnight before the finals series intensifies heading into mid-November.

How to Watch the Rugby League World Cup in Australia FAQs

Is the Rugby League World Cup free to watch in Australia?

Yes. Every match is broadcast live and free on Channel 7 and streamed via 7plus Sport, with no subscription required.

When does the Rugby League World Cup start and finish?

The tournament runs from Thursday 15 October to Sunday 15 November 2026.

Where is the Rugby League World Cup Grand Final being held?

Both the men's and women's Grand Finals will be played at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 15 November 2026.

How many nations are competing in the Rugby League World Cup?

The men's tournament features ten nations across three pools, while the women's tournament features eight nations across two pools.