LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The 2026 Rugby League World Cup is undergoing significant changes with a new format that will transform the tournament's layout.
As reported by AAP, the upcoming RLWC will consist of three groups rather than the traditional four. Group A will include four teams, while Groups B and C will each have three teams.
This alteration means that to ensure each team plays three matches in the group stage, teams in Groups B and C will compete against one another.
Moreover, only four teams will advance to the knockout rounds of the tournament.
The top two teams from Group A, along with the best two teams combined from Groups B and C, will move forward, thus ensuring that only the strongest four teams progress.
Australia and New Zealand have already been confirmed for Group A, and it is reported that Tonga and Samoa will not be included in this group; instead, they will face off in the group stage.
This exciting matchup is likely to occur at either Allianz Stadium, Suncorp Stadium, or AAMI Park. Given that the tournament's opening match is set for Allianz Stadium, the latter two venues seem to be the most probable options for this game.