The 2030 Rugby League World Cup will be staged across the USA and the Pacific Islands, according to an announcement by the International Rugby League (IRL). Five host cities for the event are still to be finalized, while the men’s and women’s competitions will happen concurrently, matching the schedule of the current tournament in Australia.
Tournament Expansion and Strategy
The IRL stated that the objective is to grow the game’s global footprint into fresh territories. Speaking at the board’s annual general meeting in Sydney, IRL chairman Tony Grant explained that the decision supports broader engagement goals following record-breaking attendance and viewership numbers.
Grant stated, “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 added, “At the same time we want to take advantage of opportunities that are opening up in new frontiers where the Rugby League World Cup hasn’t previously been played.”
Format Changes and Tier Rankings
As part of the tournament changes, the men’s World Cup will grow from 10 to 12 teams, and the women’s competition will increase from eight to 10 squads. National federations have been invited to provide feedback on the overarching tournament format following discussions at the meeting.
Additionally, the IRL proposed elevating Samoa and Tonga into Tier One status, joining Australia, England, and New Zealand. Samoa made history in 2022 by becoming the first Pacific nation to reach a World Cup final, and both Samoa and Tonga advanced to the semi-finals of the current tournament.
France will host the 2030 Wheelchair World Cup concurrently, with Europe designated as the host region for the 2034 competitions.
