Ready for a World Cup that hops across the Pacific and the United States? International Rugby League confirmed the 2030 men’s and women’s tournaments will be hosted in cities throughout the region, featuring more nations than ever before.
The events will adopt a Magic Round style, gathering all teams in a single host city for a round of matches before they travel onward.
The board also green‑lit eligibility tweaks to widen national talent pools and gave Tonga and Samoa provisional Tier 1 status, pending consultation.
For my money, the elevation of Tonga and Samoa rewards their on‑field feats and off‑field growth; both reached the RLWC26 semi‑finals, with Samoa playing the 2022 final and Tonga beating Australia, England and New Zealand as a Tier 2 side.
Eligibility now extends to players whose great‑grandparents were born in the nation they wish to represent, adding another generational link to the criteria.
The move follows a proposal from the Cook Islands, whose tiny population and diaspora prompted calls for broader representation options.
A wheelchair competition will run in France simultaneously, while the men’s field expands from 10 to 12 teams and the women’s from eight to ten.
IRL chair Troy Grant said, “The board has decided the 2030 men’s and women’s World Cups will be staged across the Pacific and the USA. The wheelchair event will take place in France at the same time.”
He added, “This strategy aims to boost broadcaster interest, government partnerships and fan engagement, building on record crowds and viewership from the current tournament.”
Grant continued, “We also want to seize fresh opportunities in markets that have never hosted the Rugby League World Cup before.”
He explained, “The five‑week tournament will visit five locations across the Pacific and the USA; exact cities are still under review as we assess strategic placement.”
“The chosen venues must boast stadiums capable of hosting multiple‑day match blocks, ensuring all pool games are completed in one site,” he noted.
“Think of it as a travelling Magic Round: the Cup lands in a city, the stadium lights up, fans engage, then the show moves to the next host.”
“Three weeks will see every nation compete, followed by semi‑finals and the final,” the chair said.
“The precise format remains under discussion, with feedback gathered at the recent IRL AGM and Congress in Sydney.”
The board also floated a similar format for the 2034 World Cup in Europe, timed with the sport’s 100‑year anniversary in France. Could the 2034 edition finally crown a European champion as the sport celebrates its centenary?