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Rugby League World Cup qualification

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Rugby League World Cup qualification
Upcoming tournament
2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification
SportRugby league
Instituted2000; 24 years ago (2000)
RegionInternational (IRL)

The Rugby League World Cup qualification is the process a national team goes through to qualify for the Rugby League World Cup Finals.

Qualifying rounds were first introduced for the 2000 World Cup to reflect the recent expansion of the tournament.

From 2017 hosts and teams reaching the knockout rounds of the previous tournament automatically qualify for the next. The remaining spots are achieved through regional qualification tournaments, split between the four International Rugby League confederation Asia-Pacific, Americas, Europe, and Middle East-Africa.

Prior to this qualification tournament occurred in more random groups and major rugby league nations were still invited without need for qualification.

Because of a changing number of teams making the finals and entering the qualifiers, and the unpredictability of the geographic spread of teams automatically qualifying, the format of the qualification tournament has changed with each edition of the tournament.

Pre-qualification era

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New Zealand (TL), France (TR), Great Britain (BL), and Australia (BR) shirts from the inaugural 1954 tournament. They were the four nations to compete in the competition until the 1980s.

1954–1977

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In the first eight edition of the tournament only four teams were invited to participate. These were:

NB: In 1975 Great Britain split into England and Wales for a one-off tournament due to Wales wanting to showcase their influx of Welsh talent they had at the time. No Scottish or Irish player made the original Great Britain squad for that year.

1985–1992

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For the next two editions of the tournament, a fifth nation was invited to participate:

1995

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Following the expansion of the tournament to a group and knockout format, the number of participating teams increase as well. The initial tournament of the modern era would be the final invited only tournament with four new teams making debut:

In addition, the two established British home nation sides began their regular participation in the tournament as separate entities:

2000

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Main article: 2000 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

For 2000, the tournament was expanded to 16 teams. 15 gained automatic qualification or were invited:

The 16th place was fought for by six teams:

Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 Lebanon 2 2 0 0 140 16 124 4
 Italy 2 1 0 1 50 36 14 2
 Morocco 2 0 0 2 0 138 -138 0
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 United States 2 2 0 0 122 0 122 4
 Japan 2 1 0 1 14 54 -40 2
 Canada 2 0 0 2 0 82 -82 0
Qualification play-off
21 November 1999
United States  8–62  Lebanon
Tries: Mains
Goals: Niu (2)
Sin Bin: Matautia
Sent Off: Faimalo
 Summary
 Tries: Coorey (3), Khoury (2), Chalal, Chehade, El Masri, Lambert, Salem, Touma
Goals: El Masri (9)
Sin Bin: Chamoun, Maroon

2008

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Main article: 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Hosts and Invitees

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Europe

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Round 1
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts Qualification
 Russia 3 3 0 0 108 20 +88 6 Advance to Second Round
 Georgia 3 2 0 1 102 50 +52 4 Ejected
 Netherlands 3 1 0 2 68 123 –55 2 Failed to qualify
 Serbia 3 0 0 3 42 127 –85 0
Round 2
Group A
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts Qualification
 Scotland 2 1 0 1 37 32 +5 2 Qualified for World Cup
 Wales 2 1 0 1 32 37 –5 2 Advance to Intercontinental Playoff
Group B
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts Qualification
 Ireland 4 2 2 0 142 64 78 6 Qualified for World Cup
 Lebanon 4 2 2 0 104 42 62 6 Advance to Interncontinental Playoff
 Russia 4 0 0 4 38 178 −140 0 Failed to qualify

Pacific

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Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts Qualification
 Tonga 3 2 0 1 102 54 48 4 Qualified for World Cup
 Fiji 3 2 0 1 98 62 36 4
 Samoa 3 2 0 1 86 52 34 4 Advances to Intercontinental Playoffs
 Cook Islands 3 0 0 3 24 142 −118 0 Failed to qualify for World Cup

Other

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28 October 2006
United States 54–18 Japan
Aston Community Center Field, Aston
Attendance: 1,200

United States advance to Intercontinental playoffs

Intercontinental

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Semi-finals
9 November 2007
Wales 26–50 Lebanon
Tries: Gibson (3)
Blackwood
Bracek
Goals: Harris (2/4)
Briers		Tries: Salem (3)
El Zbaideh
Kourouche
Moujalli
Ndaira
Saab
Samia Goals: Nicolas (7/9)
Halton Stadium, Widnes
Attendance: 753
9 November 2007
United States 10–42 Samoa
Halton Stadium, Widnes
Attendance: 753
Final
14 November 2007
Lebanon 16–38 Samoa
Post Office Road, Featherstone
Attendance: 1,323

Samoa qualify for World Cup

2013

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Main article: 2013 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Hosts and Invitees

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Atlantic

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Team Pld W D L TF PF PA +/− BP Pts
 United States 2 2 0 0 0 80 8 +72 0 4
 Jamaica 2 1 0 1 0 24 46 −22 0 2
 South Africa 2 0 0 2 0 10 60 −50 0 0

Europe

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Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 Italy 3 2 1 0 163 31 +132 5
 Lebanon 3 2 1 0 147 23 +124 5
 Russia 3 1 0 2 42 152 −110 2
 Serbia 3 0 0 3 38 184 −146 0

2017

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Main article: 2017 Rugby League World Cup qualification

Automatic

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Americas

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Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 United States 2 2 0 0 54 38 +16 4
 Jamaica 2 0 1 1 32 38 −6 1
 Canada 2 0 1 1 42 52 −10 1
Source: [citation needed]

Asia-Pacific

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17 October 2015
Tonga  28 – 8  Cook Islands
Try: Tafua 13' c
Fonua 34' c
Kata (2) 63', 68' c
Terepo 74' c
Goal: Kata (4/5) 14', 35', 69', 75' 		Report
 Try: Nicoll-Klokstad 4'
Gelling 23'


Goal: Rapana (0/2)
Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Attendance: 4,813
Referee: Australia Gerard Sutton
Player of the Match: Solomone Kata (Tonga)

Europe

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Euro C
Team Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference Points
 Spain 2 2 0 0 116 34 82 4
 Malta 2 1 0 1 60 40 20 2
 Greece 2 0 0 2 4 106 -102 0

Green: Advance to A

Euro B
Team Pld W D L PF PA +/− Pts
 Serbia 6 5 0 1 196 73 +123 10
 Russia 6 4 0 2 137 31 +106 8
 Italy 6 3 0 3 142 54 +88 6
 Ukraine 6 0 0 6 80 256 –176 0

Green: Advance to A

Euro A
Group A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Wales 2 2 0 0 70 14 +56 4 Qualification for 2017 Rugby League World Cup
2  Italy 2 1 0 1 76 34 +42 2 Advance to fourth round
3  Serbia 2 0 0 2 14 112 −98 0
Source: [citation needed]
Group B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Ireland 2 2 0 0 116 22 +94 4 Qualification for 2017 Rugby League World Cup
2  Russia 2 1 0 1 56 76 −20 2 Advance to fourth round
3  Spain 2 0 0 2 12 86 −74 0
Source: [citation needed]
Playoff
2017 Rugby League World Cup Europe qualification play-off
4 November 2016
20:00 GMT (UTC+0:00)
Italy  76–0  Russia
Tries: Castellaro (2), Cerruto (2), Lepori (2), Wilkie (2), Campese, Celerino, Centrone, Santi, Wakeman, Walker
Goals: Campese (10/14)
 Report (RLIF)
Leigh Sports Village, Leigh
Attendance: 450
Referee: Chris Campbell (England)
Player of the Match: Terry Campese (Italy)

Middle East-Africa

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25 October 2015 South Africa  12–40  Lebanon Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
31 October 2015 South Africa  16–50  Lebanon Bosman Stadium, Brakpan

2021

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Main article: 2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification

Automatic

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Americas

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Semi-finals Final
    
 Canada 8
 Jamaica 38
 United States 10
 Jamaica 16
 United States 62
 Chile 0

 Jamaica qualify
 United States advance to Intercontinental playoffs

Europe

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Round 1
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  France 3 3 0 0 106 38 +68 6 Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup
2  Wales 3 2 0 1 108 74 +34 4
3  Ireland 3 1 0 2 54 74 −20 2 Advance to Europe Repêchage for 2021 World Cup qualification
4  Scotland 3 0 0 3 32 114 −82 0
Source: ERL
Playoffs
Group A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Ireland 2 2 0 0 67 12 +55 4 Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup
2  Italy 2 1 0 1 38 29 +9 2
3  Spain 2 0 0 2 12 76 −64 0
Source: ERL
Group B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Scotland 2 2 0 0 128 24 +104 4 Qualification for 2021 Rugby League World Cup
2  Greece 2 1 0 1 106 48 +58 2
3  Serbia 2 0 0 2 6 168 −162 0
Source: ERL

Intercontinental

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Play-off qualifier Play-off
 United States 16
 Cook Islands 66  Cook Islands 38
 South Africa 6

 Cook Islands qualify

2026

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Main article: 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification

Automatic

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Europe

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Semi-finals Final
    
 France 74
 Ukraine 8
 France 48
 Wales 6
 Serbia 0
 Wales 48

 France advance to Intercontinental playoffs

Intercontinental

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Results

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As of the 2021 tournament, 21 different teams have competed in at least one world cup either via invitation or qualification. Australia, France, and New Zealand, are the only teams to have completed in every tournament. England has also participate in every tournament but competed as Great Britain prior to 1995 with the exception of 1975.

Team France
1954 		Australia
1957 		United Kingdom
1960 		AustraliaNew Zealand
1968 		United Kingdom
1970 		France
1972 		AustraliaFranceNew ZealandUnited Kingdom
1975 		AustraliaNew Zealand
1977 		1985–1988 1989–1992 England
1995 		EnglandIrelandFranceScotlandWales
2000 		Australia
2008 		EnglandWales
2013 		AustraliaNew ZealandPapua New Guinea
2017 		England
2021 		AustraliaPapua New Guinea
2026 		Years
 Australia INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV AQ AQ AQ 17
 Cook Islands - - - - - - - - - - - INV DNQ INV DNQ Q TBD 3
 England - - - - - - INV - - - INV INV INV INV AQ AQ AQ 8a
 Fiji - - - - - - - - - - INV INV INV INV AQ AQ AQ 7
 France INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV AQ Q TBD 16
 Great Britain INV INV INV INV INV INV - INV INV INV - - - - - - - 9a
 Greece - - - - - - - - - - - - - - DNQ Q TBD 1
 Ireland - - - - - - - - - - - INV Q INV Q Q TBD 5a
 Italy - - - - - - - - - - - DNQ - Q Q Q TBD 13
 Jamaica - - - - - - - - - - - - - DNQ DNQ Q TBD 1
 Lebanon - - - - - - - - - - - Q DNQ DNQ Q AQ AQ 4
 Māori - - - - - - - - - - - INV - - - - TBD 1
 New Zealand INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV INV AQ AQ AQ 17
 Papua New Guinea - - - - - - - - INV INV INV INV INV INV AQ AQ AQ 9
 Russia - - - - - - - - - - - INV DNQ DNQ DNQ SUP SUP 1b
 Samoa - - - - - - - - - - INV INV Q INV AQ AQ AQ 7
 Scotland - - - - - - - - - - - INV Q INV AQ Q TBD 5a
 South Africa - - - - - - - - - - INV INV DNQ DNQ DNQ DNQ TBD 2
 Tonga - - - - - - - - - - INV INV Q INV Q AQ AQ 7
 United States - - - - - - - - - - - DNQ DNQ Q Q DNQ TBD 2c
 Wales - - - - - - INV - - - INV INV DNQ INV Q Q TBD 6a
Total 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 4 5 5 10 16 10 14 14 16 10
Legend
  •    = Hosts
  • INV = Invited
  • AQ = Automatically Qualified
  • Q = Qualified
  • DNQ = Did not qualify
  • - = Did not participate or was not invited
  • SUP = Suspended

a Competed as Great Britain in nine previous tournaments. The squads largely consisted of English players, but also featured Welsh players in every tournament. Scotland (1954, 1968, 1977, 1989–92), and Ireland (1957) were represented by native-born players in some tournaments.
b After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has been banned from all international tournaments.
c The United States was invited to the 1954 World Cup, but later canceled their invitation.

Participation

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The following table shows the number of years each team has completed in both the qualifiers and final tournament. Bold inducates teams automatically qualified or were invited to participate.

Updated for 2026 European Qualifiers

Team Qualifiers Finals
 Canada 3 (2000, 2017, 2021) 0
 Chile 1 (2021) 0
 Cook Islands 3 (2008, 2017, 2021) 2 (2000, 2013)
 Fiji 1 (2008) 6 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 France 2 (2021, 2026) 16 (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1985–88, 1989–92, 1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 Georgia 1 (2008) 0
 Greece 2 (2017, 2021) 1 (2021)
 Ireland 3 (2008, 2017, 2021) 5 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 Italy 4 (2000, 2013, 2017, 2021) 3 (2013, 2017, 2021)
 Jamaica 3 (2013, 2017, 2021) 1 (2021)
 Japan 2 (2000, 2008) 0
 Lebanon 4 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017) 3 (2000, 2017, 2021)
 Malta 3 (2017, 2021) 0
 Morocco 1 (2000) 0
 Netherlands 1 (2008) 0
 Russia 4 (2008, 2013, 2017, 2021) 1 (2000)
 Samoa 1 (2008) 5 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 Scotland 2 (2008, 2021) 5 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 Serbia 5 (2008, 2013, 2017, 2021, 2026) 0
 South Africa 3 (2013, 2017, 2021) 2 (1995, 2000)
 Spain 2 (2017, 2021) 0
 Tonga 2 (2008, 2017) 6 (1995, 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 Wales 4 (2008, 2017, 2021, 2026) 6 (1975, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021)
 United States 5 (2000, 2008, 2013, 2017, 2021) 2 (2013, 2017)
 Ukraine 4 (2017, 2021, 2026) 0

Debuts

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The following table shows which years teams made their qualification tournament debut. It doesn't not include teams that have previously qualified automatically or invited to participate.

Year Americas Asia-Pacific Europe Middle East-Africa Total
2000
England
France
Ireland
Scotland
Wales 		 United States
 Canada
  Japan
  Italy
  Lebanon
 Morocco
 6
2008
Australia 		 Cook Islands  Georgia
 Netherlands
 Serbia 		4
2013
England
Wales 		 Jamaica
 1
2017
Australia
New Zealand
Papua New Guinea 		 Greece
 Malta
 Spain
 Ukraine
 5
2021
England 		 Chile 1
Total 4 2 7 2 15

See also

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References

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