As we head into the final week of the Rugby League World Cup group stages, there are still a number of semi-final spots to play for in both the men’s and women’s competitions. With no quarter-final stages this time around…
The qualification scenarios for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup semi-finals have been outlined ahead of the final group stage round. With the tournament format eliminating the quarter-final stage, only two nations from each pool will advance directly to the semi-finals in both the men's and women's competitions. Australia's men and women have already secured their semi-final berths, while France and Lebanon have been knocked out of the men's event.
To advance in the men's tournament, England must defeat Papua New Guinea on Friday, hope Tonga beats Samoa on Sunday, and make up a 68-point differential margin. Samoa and Tonga both hold strong qualification advantages in the combined Group B+C table, while New Zealand and Fiji face a winner-takes-all clash in Pool A. In the women's event, England faces a decisive match against Samoa on Friday.
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