How to watch Rugby League World Cup 2026: Broadcasting guide

The Rugby League World Cup 2026 reached the semi-final stage for both the men’s and women’s events. Fans can watch the tournament as Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea host top teams for a month of exciting matches. The competition consists of men's, women’s, and wheelchair tournaments, totaling 53 matches spanning October and November. The finals for both the men’s and women’s tournaments are set for Brisbane on Sunday, 15 November.

Australia aims to defend its titles in both categories, while England protects its wheelchair crown. This quick guide highlights the Rugby League World Cup dates: 15 October - 15 November, 2026. Free streaming is available on 7 Plus in Australia, and broadcasters include Premier Sports in the UK, Ireland, and the US, as well as Sky Sport in New Zealand. Viewers looking to stream from anywhere can try NordVPN, which provides a risk-free option.

As the semi-final stage progresses, Newcastle will host key matches on Saturday: New Zealand faces Samoa in the women’s tournament, while the men compete with New Zealand against Tonga. On Sunday, Sydney will see reigning champions Australia compete against Fiji in the women’s semi-final and Samoa in the men’s. Meanwhile, the wheelchair competitions will determine the teams advancing to the semi-finals on Monday and Tuesday.

For those in Australia, all matches of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup can be accessed for free via Seven and the 7plus streaming service, requiring just a free account. In New Zealand, ThreeNow is offering free streaming options for Kiwis matches and the respective semi-finals and finals.

Fans abroad need not worry about missing out on the action; a VPN allows them to access familiar services while traveling. TechRadar and Tom’s Guide recommend NordVPN for its affordable rates and impressive ability to unblock streaming sites.

Here’s a summary of this week’s fixtures:

Friday, 6 November
Scotland v New Zealand (Wheelchair Pool B) - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
Kick-off: 12:00 AM GMT / 11:00 AM AEDT / 1:00 PM NZDT / 7:00 PM ET (Thursday) / 4:00 PM PT (Thursday)
Wales v USA (Wheelchair Pool A) - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
Kick-off: 2:30 AM GMT / 1:30 PM AEDT / 3:30 PM NZDT / 9:30 PM ET / 6:30 PM PT (Thursday)
England v Ireland (Wheelchair Pool A) - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
Kick-off: 6:00 AM GMT / 5:00 PM AEDT / 7:00 PM NZDT / 1:00 AM ET / 10:00 PM PT (Thursday)
England v Papua New Guinea (Wheelchair Pool B) - WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong, Australia
Kick-off: 8:30 AM GMT / 7:30 PM AEDT / 9:30 PM NZDT / 3:30 AM ET / 12:30 AM PT (Thursday)

Saturday, 7 November
New Zealand v Samoa (Women’s semi-final) - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 6:45 AM GMT / 5:45 PM AEDT / 7:45 PM NZDT / 1:45 AM ET / 10:45 PM PT (Friday)
New Zealand v Tonga (Men’s semi-final) - McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 9:05 AM GMT / 8:05 PM AEDT / 10:05 PM NZDT / 4:05 AM ET / 1:05 AM PT (Friday)

Sunday, 8 November
Australia v Fiji (Women’s semi-final) - Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Kick-off: 6:45 AM GMT / 5:45 PM AEDT / 7:45 PM NZDT / 1:45 AM ET / 10:45 PM PT (Saturday)
Australia v Samoa (Men’s semi-final) - Allianz Stadium, Sydney, Australia
Kick-off: 9:05 AM GMT / 8:05 PM AEDT / 10:05 PM NZDT / 4:05 AM ET / 1:05 AM PT (Saturday)

This guide provides all information to ensure fans can enjoy the Rugby League World Cup live, regardless of their location.