RLWC 2026 Draw, Venue & Crowds

[PARRA_FAN]

They've literally left a least 20,000 ticket sales. Probably $1-2M. Sitting on the table. Boneheaded decision unless Venues NSW is paying through the roof for it. Even then Allianz/Accor

Yeah theyve lost me on that one. Theyre worried about not making much profit by reducing the teams yet never think about the potential for a 50,000+ crowd at a WC which hasnt happened in a long time for a group game.

It would be an embarrassment if the Commbank game gets a full house and the Aus/Fiji game gets under 20,000 at Suncorp.

 

[paulmac]

October November is peak concert season for Accor. Still could have got an extra 15 at Allianz or better still 20 at Suncorp.
Lebanon v France would have got 15k on their own.
I’m a bit disappointed there’s no midweek games even if it was just the women’s games at smaller venues like Shark Park or Kayo Stadium.
One of the the (few)things I liked about 2022 was there was a game every day

 

[parrawentyfan]

A bit disappointing for me.

Lebanon have a big fan base in Sydney and could have drawn a decent crowd on their own. It would have been better as standalone games.

Tonga v Samoa would've sold out a larger venue on its own. Keep Lebanon v France where it is and play Tonga v Samoa in Melbourne, Brisbane or Allianz.

The scheduling of the women's matches is...off. I can see people leaving before those games start.

 

[Gobsmacked]

If the venues are final and are going to remain the way they are, but late changes to the fixtures are allowed before tickets go on sale to the general public, these are the swaps I'd do ASAP:

- Tonga vs Samoa should be moved from CommBank Stadium to Suncorp Stadium (hence, Lebanon vs France becomes a stand-alone fixture at CommBank Stadium)
- Australia vs Fiji should be moved from Suncorp Stadium to Newcastle
- Fiji vs Cook Islands should be moved from Newcastle to Wollongong.
- England vs PNG should be moved from Wollongong to Port Moresby.

Also, I'd swap between the New Zealand vs Cook Islands and New Zealand vs Fiji fixtures, so that New Zealand vs Fiji is in Christchurch instead of the Gold Coast.

Australia vs Fiji should be in Melbourne imo
Other than that, I totally agree.

 

[Gobsmacked]

People have short memories. Lebanon always aim up at Worls Cups. They hung in with Aus in 2017, pushed Eng & only lost by 2 to 2026 opponents Tonga

Who's available for Lebanon these days though?

 

[Gobsmacked]

There's some disappointment but I'm glad Perth gets some games leading into the Bears entrance in 2027

 

[yakstorm]

Tonga v Samoa would've sold out a larger venue on its own. Keep Lebanon v France where it is and play Tonga v Samoa in Melbourne, Brisbane or Allianz.

Agree. Lebanon v France, at worse, would have drawn 10K at CommBank, whilst Tonga v Samoa would get 40K+, even at the unfriendly kick off time of 8pm on a Sunday.

 

[adamkungl]

Got tickets for the Opener, the Tonga Samoa triple header, and the Allianz SF so far.
Those are the ones I think are possible sellouts, the other NSW based games I'll grab closer to the date

 

[adamkungl]

Sydney Morning Herald doesn't appear to have a single article about the RLWC draw announcement.
Fascinating. I'm sure it's nothing to do with Channel 7 having the rights.

 

[Jim from Oz]

Sydney Morning Herald doesn't appear to have a single article about the RLWC draw announcement.
Fascinating. I'm sure it's nothing to do with Channel 7 having the rights.

Indeed !

I wonder if the News Corpse newspapers have anything …

 

[Coastbloke]

I’m just gobsmacked we have a RLWC draw, teams and tickets on sale a freaking year to go!!!!

But yeh, with some times and match-ups still good ‘ol clunky Rugby League tournament that would make World Rugby or FIFA laugh..

Also with the concerns about The Cooks match at Newcastle. If it was a RUWC match with the same teams, it’d be close to a sellout. This is a Rugby League issue. They have a year to figure it out..

 

[adamkungl]

But yeh, with some times and match-ups still good ‘ol clunky Rugby League tournament that would make World Rugby or FIFA laugh..

I yearn for the day this sport announces something and I'm like "nice, sounds great, no complaints".
I can get over things that only matter to purists, like the wildly slim possibility that Lebanon could sweep 3 games and still miss the finals.
But the Tonga v Samoa stadium choice here is like... f**king hell that's $2M set on fire that could be invested in developing the game.

 

[Last Week]

I’m just gobsmacked we have a RLWC draw, teams and tickets on sale a freaking year to go!!!!

It's a absolute disgrace how the NRL have treated the world cup. They were awarded the rights to host in August 2023. Over 2 years ago.

What have they done between then and now?

It just smacks of the product being treated with disdain because it's not an NRL owned product.

 

[adamkungl]

It's a absolute disgrace how the NRL have treated the world cup. They were awarded the rights to host in August 2023. Over 2 years ago.

What have they done between then and now?

It just smacks of the product being treated with disdain because it's not an NRL owned product.

I think @Coastbloke was positively gobsmacked about tickets being on sale with a year to go

What's the disgrace here exactly? What should they have been doing before now? They had the Pacific Champs and the Ashes to promote this year (debatable whether they do a good job marketing those but whatever). I don't think they need to be actively promoting the RLWC more than a year in advance.

 

[Last Week]

I think @Coastbloke was positively gobsmacked about tickets being on sale with a year to go

What's the disgrace here exactly? What should they have been doing before now? They had the Pacific Champs and the Ashes to promote this year (debatable whether they do a good job marketing those but whatever). I don't think they need to be actively promoting the RLWC more than a year in advance.

Prioritize the world cup?

The Ashes this year, and Tonga's tour last year would have been a great time to promote a touring package for the British to come to Australia.

It's in less than 12 months now. The majority of RL fans, particularly in the UK can't save up enough for a trip in that short time. Let alone getting annual leave off work.

 

[Coastbloke]

Christchurch? That can't be right.

I thought the 2026 RLWC was hosted by Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Christchurch is in QLD..

 

[marlins2.0]

Tickets to the final purchased from seven leaguies from NZ!

Will likely do Christchurch as well, tickets very reasonable for that game.

As others have said, some f**kups with the draw that are so rugby league it's not even funny!

That said, cannot wait already! Went over the ditch for the 2008 final, outrageous experience that!

 

[adamkungl]

People have short memories. Lebanon always aim up at Worls Cups. They hung in with Aus in 2017, pushed Eng & only lost by 2 to 2026 opponents Tonga

There's a far more realistic scenario I hope doesn't play out than Lebanon sweeping the pool matches:

The winner of the Tonga v Samoa game misses out on F/A.

If...
England beats Tonga, PNG, France
Tonga beats Samoa, Lebanon
Samoa beats PNG, France

Samoa can still qualify on f/a
Some might say it should then be decided on head to head rather than f/a

But if...
England beats PNG, France
Tonga beats England, Lebanon
Samoa beats Tonga, France
PNG beats Samoa, Lebanon

4 teams on 2 wins each! With a completely circular head to head result!


So. Some controversy is likely. Hopefully not. It's very hard to have a sub 16 format without any caveats. Even in a bog standard format you have the luck of the draw putting you in easier or harder pools. Look at France, luck of the draw has them playing England and Samoa instead of Tonga and PNG. But at least it's not Australia and New Zealand!

Lets just hope the tournament is commercially successful and something to build on so that one day we can get back to an actually viable 16 teams.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

Prioritize the world cup?

The Ashes this year, and Tonga's tour last year would have been a great time to promote a touring package for the British to come to Australia.

It's in less than 12 months now. The majority of RL fans, particularly in the UK can't save up enough for a trip in that short time. Let alone getting annual leave off work.

Youre taking the piss right?

 

[Gobsmacked]

I’m just gobsmacked we have a RLWC draw, teams and tickets on sale a freaking year to go!!!!

But yeh, with some times and match-ups still good ‘ol clunky Rugby League tournament that would make World Rugby or FIFA laugh..

Also with the concerns about The Cooks match at Newcastle. If it was a RUWC match with the same teams, it’d be close to a sellout. This is a Rugby League issue. They have a year to figure it out..

"I’m just gobsmacked "
You wish..