The 2026 Rugby League World Cup takes place from October 15-November 15 with hosts Australia heavy favourites to win.
The streamlined tournament format leaves little margin for error with every pool match carrying significance.
The Kangaroos will once again carry the weight of expectation, but New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga have all shown they are capable of challenging Australia on the biggest stage, while England will be determined to make their home-grown talent count.
2026 Rugby League World Cup Winner Odds
| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Australia | 1.40 |
| New Zealand | 4.50 |
| Samoa | 9.50 |
| England | 13.00 |
| Tonga | 15.00 |
| Papua New Guinea | 201.00 |
| France | 201.00 |
| Fiji | 251.00 |
| Lebanon | 501.00 |
| Cook Islands | 1001.00 |
2026 Rugby League World Cup Contenders
Australia enter the 2026 Rugby League World Cup as the clear team to beat, with the Kangaroos priced at 1.40 to lift the trophy.
However, this shapes as a far more competitive tournament than those odds might suggest, with New Zealand (4.50), Samoa (9.50), England (13.00) and Tonga (15.00) all presenting genuine threats.
The tournament begins on 15 October, with Australia immediately facing their biggest market rival, New Zealand, at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.
The Kangaroos and Kiwis have been drawn alongside Fiji and the Cook Islands in Pool A, meaning the opening game could have a major bearing on the path to the semi-finals.
New Zealand look the obvious alternative to the favourites at 4.50. The Kiwis have proven they can beat Australia, most notably producing a record 30-0 victory over the Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Cup final, before winning another Pacific Cup in 2025.
Samoa have also established themselves as a major international force after becoming the first Pacific nation to reach a World Cup final at the previous tournament.
That makes the middle of the market particularly interesting. Samoa are 9.50, while England and Tonga sit at 13.00 and 15.00 respectively.
England and Samoa are joined by Lebanon in Pool B, with Tonga, Papua New Guinea and France comprising Pool C. Teams from Pools B and C play crossover matches, with the top two nations on their combined table advancing to the semi-finals.
England and Tonga meet in Perth on the opening weekend, while the Tonga-Samoa clash on 1 November shapes as another potential tournament-defining contest.
With only four men's semi-final positions available in the streamlined 10-team competition, there is considerably less room for an early slip-up than in previous World Cups.