Rugby League World Cup 2026: Australia and New Zealand Start as Favorites

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Rugby League World Cup 2026: Australia and New Zealand Start as Favorites.

This week, the 2026 Rugby League World Cup gets underway — and it brings a format that completely reshapes the familiar tournament structure. Ten nations are competing for just four semifinal spots, with the quarterfinal round eliminated. While Australia and New Zealand are viewed as the top favorites on home soil, the pressure on England is especially high.

After years on the shelf, the Rugby League World Championship returns with a new rhythm, writes the Guardian in its group-by-group preview. The men's edition sees a familiar cast of nations chasing the title.

What's new about the tournament format?

The organizers have significantly condensed the competition. Instead of the classic route through group stage and quarterfinals, the ten participating teams compete in a compact structure in which the quarterfinal round has been scrapped. In the end, only four semifinalists remain — and therefore just four teams that still have a shot at the title.

How the group stage works

The distribution of places follows an asymmetric logic. Group A comprises four teams, of which the top two advance directly to the semifinals. The remaining six nations are split across Groups B and C, with three teams each. These sides don't just play within their own group, but also cross over against the other three-team pool. From a combined table of Groups B and C, the top two teams qualify for the semifinals.

For you, that means: In Group A, the semifinals are reachable through direct table position; in Groups B and C, every single point from the cross-over matches counts. A loss at the wrong moment can end your tournament on the spot.

Australia and New Zealand as favorites

At the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, the sport's dominant nations take the field on home soil. Australia and New Zealand, who have set the tone in international rugby league for decades, are considered the main favorites for the title. The fact that they are playing home matches this time only strengthens that position — home advantage, familiarity with the conditions, and packed stadiums are factors that can make the difference in an already tight field.

England under pressure

While Australia and New Zealand occupy the favorites' role, special pressure rests on England. The British must hold their own in the new, more compact format, which offers fewer safety nets than previous World Cups. Whoever misses the semifinals is immediately out of the tournament — a circumstance that raises the stakes of every single match.

Why this tournament should be exciting

The 2026 Rugby League World Cup brings fresh energy to a traditional sport: more head-to-head matchups through the cross-over format between B and C, fewer safety nets with the quarterfinals gone, clear structures in Group A, an interactive back-and-forth between the two three-team pools. The historical record speaks for the Southern Hemisphere favorites; a format in which every point counts leaves room for surprises.