The 2030 Rugby League World Cup will be co-hosted by the USA and the Pacific Islands, marking the first time the tournament spreads across two continents. The International Rugby League (IRL) confirmed this decision at its annual general meeting in Sydney, announcing plans to expand both the men's and women's competitions.
The men's event will grow from 10 teams to 12, while the women's tournament will increase from eight to 10 teams. The five host cities have not yet been revealed. The men's and women's World Cups will run simultaneously, following the model used in this year’s tournament in Australia.
Tony Grant, IRL chairman, said the move aims to broaden rugby league’s global reach by tapping into new markets. “This is a strategy to maximise the interest of broadcasters, government partners and fans in the current World Cup, which has regularly broken records for crowds and the number of television viewers,” he said. Grant also pointed to emerging opportunities in regions where rugby league has not previously been played at this level.
The IRL is considering changes to the tournament format, having sought feedback from participating nations during the AGM. Another significant proposal involves promoting Samoa and Tonga to Tier One status, joining Australia, England, and New Zealand. This would recognize the growing strength of Pacific Island nations, with Samoa becoming the first Pacific country to reach a World Cup final in 2022, and both Samoa and Tonga reaching the semi-finals in this year’s tournament.
While the 2030 men’s and women’s events will be hosted in the USA and Pacific Islands, the 2030 Wheelchair World Cup is scheduled to take place in France at the same time. The IRL has also announced that the 2034 World Cup will be held in Europe.
The announcement comes as Australia and New Zealand prepare to face off in both the men’s and women’s finals of the 2026 World Cup, set for Brisbane on Sunday, 15 November. Australia’s men have won the previous three World Cups, while their women will contest their fifth consecutive final.
The decision to expand the tournament and include new host nations reflects the IRL’s efforts to grow rugby league beyond its traditional strongholds. The inclusion of the USA, a country with limited rugby league history, alongside the Pacific Islands, is a clear attempt to introduce the sport to broader audiences and increase its global footprint.
Details on the exact cities hosting matches in the USA and the Pacific Islands remain unconfirmed. The IRL’s next steps will include finalizing the tournament format and solidifying the host venues. The expansion of teams and the inclusion of new host regions signal a significant development for rugby league as it looks to build on recent successes in attendance and broadcast viewership.
According to BBC Sports.