View source for Rugby League World Cup

{{short description|International rugby league football tournament}}
{{Distinguish|Rugby World Cup}}
{{About|the Men's Rugby League World Cup|the women's|Women's Rugby League World Cup|other world cups for rugby|World cup of rugby (disambiguation){{!}}World cup of rugby}}
{{Infobox rugby league football competition
| name           = 
| current_season = 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup
| seasontag = <!-- Use: Upcoming tournament, Most recent tournament, or Current tournament --> Upcoming tournament
| logo           = RLWC trophy.jpg
| pixels         = 200px
| alt            = 
| formerly       = 
| founded        = {{start date and age|1954}}
| inaugural      = 
| teams          = 10 (from 2026 finals)
| countrytag     = Region
| country        = International
| gov_body       = [[Rugby League International Federation|IRL]]
| champion       = {{rl|AUS}}
| season         = 12th title
| most_champs    = {{rl|AUS}}
| count          = 12
| website        = {{URL|https://www.rlwc2021.com/|rlwc2021.com}}
| TV             = 
| qualification  =
| related_comps  = [[Women's Rugby League World Cup|Women's World Cup]]<br /> [[Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|Wheelchair World Cup]]<br />[[Rugby League World Cup 9s|World Cup 9s]]
}}
{{Season sidebar
| title = Tournaments
| list =
* [[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954]]
* [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]]
* [[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960]]
* [[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]]
* [[1970 Rugby League World Cup|1970]]
* [[1972 Rugby League World Cup|1972]]
* [[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975]]
* [[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977]]
* [[1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup|1988]]
* [[1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup|1992]]
* [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]]
* [[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]]
* [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]]
* [[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]]
* [[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017]]
* [[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2021]]
* <s>[[2025 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2025]]</s>
* ''[[2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2026]]''
* ''[[2030 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2030]]''
}}

The '''Rugby League World Cup''' is an international [[rugby league]] competition contested by senior men's national teams who each represent member nations of the [[International Rugby League]] who run and administer the tournament. 

The tournament has been held with varying frequencies and formats throughout history, however is currently played every four years with a group and knockout structure in line with most other major sports competitions.<ref>{{cite book|last=McCann|first=Liam|title=Rugby: Facts, Figures and Fun|year=2006|publisher=AAPPL Artists' and Photographers' Press|location=UK|page=80|isbn=9781904332541|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CDk7MpyX4jUC}}</ref> The inaugural tournament was held in [[France]] in [[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954]], and was the first Rugby World Cup held for any form of [[rugby football]].<ref name="Folkard03-337">[[#Folkard2003|Folkard, 2003]]: 337</ref> The idea of the tournament was first proposed in France in the 1930s with the intent to hold a tournament in 1931. A second failed attempt came in 1951.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Richard William Cox |author2=Wray Vamplew |author3=Grant Jarvie |title=Encyclopedia of British Sport|year=2000|publisher=ABC-CLIO|location=UK|page=426|isbn=9781851093441 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JWQTAQAAIAAJ&q=%22rugby+league+world+cup%22}}</ref> 

The winners are awarded the [[Paul Barrière Trophy]], named after [[Paul Barrière]], the French Rugby League President of the 1940s and 1950s. {{rlnt|Australia}} are the most successful team in the competition's history, winning the Paul Barrière Trophy twelve times, and appearing every final bar 1954. {{rlnt|Great Britain}} have the second highest number of win with three, and {{rlnt|New Zealand}} have also won the tournament once.

The latest edition of World Cup was the [[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021 tournament]] held England and played in 2022 after being postponed due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Australia are the tournament's current champions.

== History ==
{{Main|History of the Rugby League World Cup}}
=== Pre–1994: Original round robin World Cup ===
==== 1935–1960: Establishment and triennial competitions ====
[[File:Maillots de la Coupe du monde de rugby à XIII 1954.jpg|thumb|left|{{rlnt|New Zealand}} (TL), {{rlnt|France}} (TR), {{rlnt|Great Britain}} (BL), and {{rlnt|Australia}} (BR) shirts from the inaugural 1954 tournament. They were the four nations to compete in the competition until the 1980s.]]

The Rugby League World Cup was an initiative of the French who had been campaigning for a competition since 1935. The idea was raised in 1951 by [[Paul Barrière]], the President of the [[French rugby league championship|French Rugby League]]. In 1952, [[Rugby Football League]] secretary [[Bill Fallowfield]] persuaded the Rugby League Council to support the concept.<ref name="Waddingham14-06-08">{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,23862653-5003409,00.html |title=Why this trophy for winning the rugby league World Cup? |last=Waddingham |first=Steve |date=2008-06-14 |newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]] |access-date=10 January 2010 |location=Brisbane |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926040318/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,23862653-5003409,00.html |archive-date=2012-09-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At a meeting in [[Blackpool]], England in 1953, the [[International Rugby League Board|International Board]] accepted Paul Barrière's proposal that France should be the nation to host<ref name="Waddingham14-06-08" /> the first tournament to be officially
known as the "Rugby World Cup".<ref name="SPARC-2009-p28">[[#SPARC-2009|SPARC, 2009]]: 28</ref> In addition to the hosts, the tournament featured teams from Britain, Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news
  | last = AAP
  | title = World Cup Suggestion
  | work = The Sydney Morning Herald
  | location =Australia
  | page = 7
  | date = 1953-01-19
  | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CbAUAAAAIBAJ&pg=2635,2047144
  | access-date = 2009-12-25}}</ref> The [[1954 Rugby League World Cup]] was won by Great Britain who defeated France in Paris on 13 November to claim the title.

Following the success of the maiden World Cup three years later another tournament was held in Australia, marking 50 years of rugby league in the country. Unlike the previous tournament, teams played each other in a [[sports league|league]] format. It was then decided that the team that finished first in the league would be declared the winner. Australia proved victorious on their home ground.

Another three years would pass until the next World Cup in 1960, this time held in England. It would be the second time Great Britain won the competition. Despite a home nation victory the World Cup suffered from poor crowds due to the live broadcast of games for the first time.

==== 1960–1977: Sporadic competitions ====
After a disappointing attendances in 1960, the World Cup would not be played for another eight years. The competition had been scheduled to be held in France in 1965, this time with the inclusion of the [[South Africa national rugby league team|South African team]].<ref>{{cite news
  | last1 = AAP
  | last2 = Reuter
  | title = League Cup Year Fixed
  | newspaper = [[The Sydney Morning Herald]]
  | location = Auckland
  | page = 18
  | date = 1962-08-15
  | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E1MVAAAAIBAJ&pg=3222,4068871
  | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130103052930/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=E1MVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=u-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3222,4068871
  | url-status = dead
  | archive-date = 2013-01-03
  | access-date = 2009-10-06}}</ref> However, after an unsuccessful tour of Australia, the French withdrew, effectively postponing the tournament until 1968, when Australia and New Zealand hosted and the World Cup final made a return.

The World Cup found more success in the 70s with four tournaments being played. The first, the [[1972 Rugby League World Cup final|1972 World Cup]] where the final was contested between Great Britain and Australia ended 10–10, and the title was awarded to Great Britain by virtue of their superior record in the qualifiers. Great Britain were captained by Welshman [[Clive Sullivan]] who was the first black player to captain any British national sports team. The final at the [[Stade de Gerland]] in Lyon witnessed what is (as of 2021) the last British team to win the Rugby League World Cup.<ref>{{cite news |title=When Great Britain won the World Cup |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7656503.stm |access-date=9 October 2020 |agency=BBC}}</ref>

{{more citations needed|section|date=November 2018}}<!--only last paragraph has a citation-->
In 1975, the competition underwent a radical overhaul with the tournament being held across multiple confederations. Great Britain was split into England and Wales due to Wales wanting to showcase the high level of talent they had on offer that year (no Scottish or Irish players made the original Great Britain squad). This resulted in the tournament increasing from four teams to five for the first time. There was not a final held to decide the champions of the 1975 tournament and so Australia won by virtue of topping the group standings. As Australia had not beaten England in that tournament a [[1975 Rugby League World Cup|final challenge match]] was hastily arranged which Australia would win 25–0.

In 1977, Great Britain competed again as a single entity. Although the final between Australia and Great Britain was a closely fought affair, public interest in the tournament waned due to the continuing tinkering with the format and it was not held again until the mid-1980s.

====1982–1994: No host nation ====

From 1985 to 1988, each nation played each other a number of times on a home and away basis with a number of these games also being considered part of various international tours that took place during the years in which these world cups were being played. At the end of that period, Australia met New Zealand at [[Eden Park]]. The match was a physical encounter, and Australian captain [[Wally Lewis]] played part of the match with a broken arm. The Kangaroos won the competition 25–12 in front of a capacity crowd of nearly 48,000 spectators.

This format was repeated from 1989 to 1992 (with games once again also being part of tours) and Australia won again, defeating Great Britain 10–6 at [[Wembley Stadium (1924)|Wembley Stadium]] in front of 73,361 people. This crowd remained a [[Rugby League World Cup records|Rugby League World Cup record]] (and a record for any rugby league international match) until beaten by the 74,468 crowd which attended the 2013 World Cup final at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news|last=AAP|title=Record rugby league crowd for World Cup final|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/9460610/Record-rugby-league-crowd-for-World-Cup-final|access-date=1 December 2013|newspaper=stuff.co.nz|date=1 December 2013}}</ref> The fifth nation to compete in these two tournaments was Papua New Guinea, where rugby league is the national, and most popular, sport.

=== 1995–present: The modern World Cup ===
==== 1995: Birth of the modern World Cup ====
{{main|1995 Rugby League World Cup}}
In [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]], the competition was held in England and Wales. It was again restructured, returning to the traditional "host / co-host" format, and intended (like in 1954) to be a triennial competition. The tournament expanded to ten teams with Fiji, Samoa, South Africa, and Tonga making their world cup deputes. Great Britain had also split permanently into England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, although only England and Wales qualified. Unlike previous tournaments where the top two teams in the table played in the final, a knockout stage was added, with quarter and semi-finals. Due to the [[Super League war]], players aligned with the Super League competition were not selected by the ARL to represent Australia, which meant the absence of many star players. The tournament, which was also held to celebrate the centenary of the sport, saw over 250,000 people attending the group stages and over 66,000 people attending the final, in which Australia defeated England 16–8.

==== 2000: Super League delay, financial issues, and hiatus ====
{{main|2000 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{see also|Super League war}}

Intended for 1998, the next World Cup was delayed for two years due to the [[Super League war]] and the subsequent re-structuring of rugby league's international governing bodies meant that the proposed 1998 World Cup was postponed.<ref>{{cite book
  |author1=John Coffey |author2=Bernie Wood | title = 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008
  | publisher = Huia Publishers
  | year = 2008
  | page = 302
  | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=nklWo8vw-iIC
  | isbn =9781869693312}}</ref>

In [[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]], the World Cup was held in the United Kingdom, Ireland, and France, and expanded the field further, with sixteen teams entering. This tournament included a [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Maori]] representative team, the only time this team has taken part, as well as debuts for the Cook Islands, Ireland, Russia, and Scotland. Australia won the tournament by beating New Zealand 40–12 in the final at [[Old Trafford]], [[Manchester]]. In the same year, the first [[Women's Rugby League World Cup]] was held, with New Zealand defeating Great Britain in the final.

Numerous issues, including poor organization and blown-out scorelines, meant that this tournament was seen as highly unsuccessful with an average attendance just half that of the previous tournament. Due to these problems the competition was put on indefinite hiatus and replaced with the [[Rugby League Tri-Nations]].

==== 2008: Re-establishment and regular competitions ====
{{main|2008 Rugby League World Cup}}
[[File:Kiwis Team Photo.jpg|thumb|right|[[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]] lifting the [[Paul Barrière Trophy]] after winning the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008 tournament]]]]

After the failure of the 2000 World Cup, no plans were made for another tournament until [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]] with the competition reverting to a 10-team format. The tournament also moved from every three to every four years inline with most other major international sports competitions. Australia hosted the tournament and New Zealand were crowned champions for the first time by beating the host nation at [[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]]. The tournament was once again seen as a success with a 91% average attendance increase on the previous competition. New Zealand became only the third team to win the world cup and the first other than Australia since 1972.

==== 2013: Olympic delay and tournament growth ====
{{multiple image
| align             = left
| perrow            = 2
| image1            = England v France 2013 RLWC (1).jpg
| width1            = 180
| image2            = Headingley - 10922924495.jpg
| width2            = 180
| footer            = Matches of the [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]] at the [[DW Stadium]] and [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]].
}}
{{main|2013 Rugby League World Cup}}

[[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]] saw England and Wales host the tournament and expanded to 14 teams. The tournament, originally scheduled for 2012, was moved very early in its organisation to 2013 due to the United Kingdom hosting the [[2012 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|title=RLWC2013 venues|url=http://www.rlwc2013.com/venues|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004114913/http://www.rlwc2013.com/venues|url-status=usurped|archive-date=4 October 2011|work=2013 rugby league world cup official website|publisher=Rugby League International Federation Ltd|access-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> The competition was considered the most successful competition since 1995 in terms of attendances, exposure and financial output. The tournament saw Italy and the United States play in their first world cup. Australia took the title again after defeating New Zealand in the final by a score of 34–2. The final attendance became the record international rugby league attendance at 74,468.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lucas |first=Dan |date=2013-11-30 |title=Rugby League World Cup final: New Zealand v Australia – as it happened |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/30/rugby-league-world-cup-final-new-zealand-v-australia-live |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

==== 2017: Continued growth ====
{{main|2017 Rugby League World Cup}}

[[2017 Rugby League World Cup]] taking place in Australia, New Zealand and for the first time in Papua New Guinea. While Australia would claim the title once again and for an eleventh time, the tournament was considered highly successful in terms of competitiveness. The tournament would see Tonga beat New Zealand in the group stages with a score of 28–22 to top the group, the first time a team from outside the top 3 had beaten a top 3 nation in over two decades. New Zealand went on to play Fiji in the quarter-finals and lost once again with a score of just 4–2, knocking New Zealand out in the quarter-finals, the first time a tier 1 nation had exited the tournament at this early stage. Tonga played England in the semi-finals and while conceding 20 unanswered points, they would score 3 tries in just the last seven minutes to pull the score back to 20–18, eventually losing by this close margin. The final was contested between Australia and England at [[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]] and Australia won by just 6–0, the lowest score in world cup final history.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/42207590 |title=Australia 6 England 0|date=2 December 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 December 2017}}</ref>

====2021: Further growth despite COVID-19 impact ====
[[File:Kangaroos lift 2021 RLWC.jpg|thumb|right|[[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] lifting the [[Paul Barrière Trophy]] after winning the [[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021 tournament]]]]
{{main|2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup}}
{{see also|Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league}}

England were chosen to host the [[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021 tournament]] which was postponed to 2022 due to Australia and New Zealand withdrawing due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Walter |first=Brad |date=5 August 2021 |title=2021 World Cup officially postponed due to COVID-19 pandemic |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/08/05/2021-world-cup-officially-postponed-due-to-covid-19-pandemic/ |access-date=5 August 2021 |website=nrl.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Heppenstall |first=Ross |date=2023-06-02 |title=Australia and New Zealand withdraw from Rugby League World Cup |newspaper=[[The Times]] |language=en |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/australasia/article/australia-and-new-zealand-withdraw-from-rugby-league-world-cup-bfbjxrc5h |access-date=2023-06-02 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-22 |title=Australia and NZ pull out of World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/57925720 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Australia and New Zealand withdraw from Rugby League World Cup due to coronavirus concerns |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15323/12361045/australia-and-new-zealand-will-not-compete-at-rugby-league-world-cup-due-to-coronavirus-concerns |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref> with organisers expressing a desire to see a total of one million fans attend games. This tournament saw the number of teams increased to 16 once again, with Greece and Jamaica debuting in the competition.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 February 2016 |title=Rugby League World Cup to feature 16 teams in 2021 |url=http://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/10153619/rugby-league-world-cup-to-feature-16-teams-in-2021 |access-date=11 September 2016 |publisher=Sky Sports}}</ref> In 2021, the [[Women's Rugby League World Cup|women's]] and [[Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|wheelchair]] competitions were given equal prominence with the men's tournament, as a result all three competition were run simultaneously for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Darbyshire |first=Drew |date=21 October 2019 |title=Women and wheelchair players to receive equal pay to men at 2021 World Cup |work=Love Rugby League |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/women-and-wheelchair-players-to-receive-equal-pay-to-men-at-2021-world-cup/ |access-date=2 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ed |first=Dixon |date=2 July 2020 |title=2021 Rugby League World Cup and IRL team up on broadcast production - SportsPro Media |url=https://www.sportspromedia.com/news/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-broadcast-tv-rights-partnership-bbc |access-date=2 May 2021 |website=www.sportspromedia.com}}</ref> Australia again won the competition, beating final debutants Samoa 30–10.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rugby League World Cup 2021 |url=https://www.rlwc2021.com/report/65 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=www.rlwc2021.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sutcliffe |first=Steve |date=19 November 2022 |title=Australia 30-10 Samoa: Kangaroos claim third consecutive World Cup with hard-fought victory |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/63689333 |access-date=19 November 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> The 2021 tournament was the most watched rugby league world cup in history,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rlwc2021-becomes-most-watched-rugby-league-world-cup-in-history/|title=RLWC 2021 Becomes Most Watched Rugby League|date=8 November 2022 }}</ref> and was regarded as a sporting, commercial, and social success by the IRL.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rlwc2021.com/article/1003/rugby-league-world-cup-2021-delivers-on-its-promise-to-be-biggest,-best-and-most-inclusive-in-rugby-league-history | title=Rugby League World Cup 2021 delivers on its promise to be biggest, best and most inclusive in rugby league history }}</ref>

==== 2025/26: Hosting issues ====
{{main|2025 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup}}

A proposal was put forward in 2016 to hold the 2025 Rugby League World Cup in the United States and Canada,<ref>{{cite news
|last=Fletcher
|first=Paul
|title=Rugby League World Cup: North America set to host 2025 tournament
|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/38042943
|work=BBC Sport|date=20 November 2016
|access-date=21 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news 
  | title = Rugby League World Cup moves to North America in 2025
  | publisher = stuff sport
  | date = 20 November 2016
| url = http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/86672646/rugby-league-world-cup-moves-to-north-america-in-2025
  | accessdate = 21 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-12-01 |title=North America to Host 2025 Rugby league World Cup |url=https://www.canadarugbyleague.com/north-america-host-2025-rugby-league-world-cup/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Canada Rugby League Association |language=en-CA}}</ref> but in December 2018 plans for the tournament to be held in North America were scrapped due to financial concerns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/us-world-cup-hosting-plans-torpedoed-by-money-trouble-20181204-p50k5p.html |title=US World Cup hosting plans torpedoed by money trouble |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |author= Adrian Proszenko |date=2018-12-04 |access-date= 2018-12-28}}</ref>

On 11 January 2022, it was announced France would host the tournament in 2025,<ref>{{Cite web |last=XIII |first=FFR |date=2022-01-07 |title=La France organisera la Coupe du Monde de Rugby à XIII en 2025 |url=https://www.ffr13.fr/la-france-organisera-la-coupe-du-monde-de-rugby-a-xiii-en-2025/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII |language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 January 2022|title=France to host 2025 World Cup|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/01/09/france-to-host-2025-world-cup/|access-date=8 January 2022|website=National Rugby League}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-11 |title=French Prime Minister Jean Castex's pride after securing Rugby League World Cup |url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/france-rugby-league-world-cup-22709319 |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=YorkshireLive |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-01-11 |title=France set to host the 2025 Rugby League World Cups |url=https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/01/11/france-set-to-host-the-2025-rugby-league-world-cups/ |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Asia Pacific Rugby League |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127060604/https://asiapacificrl.com/2022/01/11/france-set-to-host-the-2025-rugby-league-world-cups/ |archive-date=2022-01-27}}</ref> however on 15 May 2023 France pulled out of hosting the tournament after a newly elected French government withdrew financial support.<ref>{{Cite news |title=France pulls out of hosting Rugby League World Cup |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/65601619 |access-date=2023-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=France no longer able to host 2025 Rugby League World Cup.|url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/revealed-what-next-for-the-world-cup-as-france-no-longer-able-to-host-74758/|access-date=15 May 2023|work=seriousaboutrl.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron |title=2025 Rugby League World Cup in doubt after France pull out of staging event |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/15/2025-rugby-league-world-cup-in-doubt-after-france-pull-out-of-staging-event |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=15 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=France withdraw from hosting 2025 Rugby League World Cup over financial concerns |url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/12196/12881613/france-withdraw-from-hosting-2025-rugby-league-world-cup-over-financial-concerns |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=Sky Sports |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-15 |title=Confirmed: France will not host 2025 Rugby League World Cup |url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/confirmed-france-will-not-host-2025-rugby-league-world-cup |access-date=2023-06-02 |website=LoveRugbyLeague |language=en}}</ref> A day later, New Zealand announced they were considering a bid, but would possibly require a delay to 2026.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hytner |first=Mike |date=2023-05-16 |title=New Zealand makes bid to co-host 2025 Rugby League World Cup with Australia after France pulls out |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/16/new-zealand-makes-bid-to-co-host-2025-rugby-league-world-cup-with-australia-after-france-pulls-out |access-date=2023-05-16 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

On 3 August, the IRL announced that the tournament would be postponed to 2026 and held in the southern hemisphere with only 10 teams taking part.<ref name="26Confirmed1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/66390816|title=Southern hemisphere to host 2026 World Cup|date=August 3, 2023|website=BBC Sport}}</ref><ref name="26Confirmed2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/03/rugby-league-world-cup-announced-2026|title=Reduced Rugby League World Cup to take place in 2026 |work=The Guardian|date=3 August 2023 }}</ref><ref name="26Confirmed3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/australia-france-new-zealand-b2386872.html|title=2026 Rugby League World Cup to be hosted in southern hemisphere|date=August 3, 2023|website=The Independent}}</ref><ref name="26Confirmed4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/rugby-league-world-cup-2025-to-be-delayed-full-details-announced-for-new-look-tournament|title=Rugby League World Cup 2025 to be delayed; full details announced for new look tournament|date=August 3, 2023|website=LoveRugbyLeague}}</ref><ref name="26Confirmed5">{{cite web | url=https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/news/15323/12932834/rugby-league-world-cup-southern-hemisphere-to-host-tournament-in-2026-after-france-withdrawal | title=Rugby League World Cup: Southern hemisphere to host tournament in 2026 after France withdrawal }}</ref> It was later confirmed on 24 July 2024 that Australia would host the tournament with a number of games co-hosted by Papua New Guinea.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Australia to host 2026 World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/czd92pqdj81o |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=BBC Sport |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/07/24/arlc-welcomes-rugby-league-world-cup-2026-hosting-rights/amp/ | title=ARLC welcomes Rugby League World Cup 2026 hosting rights | date=24 July 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/62982/australia-confirmed-as-host-for-three-rugby-league-world-cups-in-2026 | title=Australia confirmed as host for three Rugby League World Cups in 2026 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/australia-to-host-2026-rugby-league-world-cup | title=Why Australia is staging 2026 World Cup with Papua New Guinea involvement revealed | date=24 July 2024 }}</ref>

====2030 ====
{{main|2030 Men's Rugby League World Cup}}

With the announcement of the 2025 World Cup being moved to 2026 came confirmation that the following competition would be held in 2030. In the announcement [[International Rugby League]] confirmed that the tournament would be held once again as a stand alone competition with the women's and wheelchair tournaments held separately in [[2028 Women's Rugby League World Cup|2028]] and [[2029 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup|2029]] respectfully, all on a four-year cycle.<ref name="26Confirmed1" /><ref name="26Confirmed5" />

== Trophy ==
{{Main|Paul Barrière Trophy}}
[[File:RLWC trophy.jpg|thumb|The [[Paul Barrière]] Trophy first awarded in the 1954 inaugural contest.]]
The World Cup trophy was commissioned by French [[Fédération Française de Rugby à XIII]] president [[Paul Barrière]] at a cost of eight million francs, and then donated to the [[International Rugby League Board]] to be used for the inaugural competition in 1954.<ref name="RLIF1">{{cite web |url= http://www.rlwc08.com/about/pastwinners.aspx?article=1954 |publisher= Rugby League International Federation |title= Past Winners: 1954 |author= RLIF |access-date= 2008-10-25 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081012230118/http://www.rlwc08.com/about/pastwinners.aspx?article=1954 |archive-date= 2008-10-12 }}</ref> This trophy was used and presented to the winning nation for the first four tournaments, before being stolen in 1970. After its recovery, the trophy was reinstated for the 2000 tournament.

== Format ==
=== Qualification ===
{{main|Rugby League World Cup qualification}}

Qualifying rounds were first introduced for the [[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000 World Cup]]. 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. 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.

=== Finals ===
{{for|details|History of the Rugby League World Cup#Evolution of the format}}
The Rugby League World Cup has followed a varied range of formats throughout its history as the number of teams participating has increased.

The current format has been in use since the 2021 tournament, in addition to the 2000 tournament. This format features 16 teams split into four groups of four playing a single round robin. Each team is awarded two points for a win and one point for a draw. The top two teams from each group qualify for the knockout stage.

The eight teams in the quarter-finals play each other with the four winners progressing to the semi-finals before the World Cup final. If the teams are level after 80 minutes extra time will be played and if the two teams are still level after extra time, a [[golden point#Rugby league|golden point]] will be played.

This will be temporary altered for the 2026 tournament due to its late rescheduling, the exact format to be used remains unknown.

== Hosts ==
{{Main|Rugby League World Cup hosts}}
<!--Home nations of the United Kingdom were not affiliated with the IRL prior to 1995, Wikipedia should reflect this. See "Wikipedia:Recentism" -->

Due to the early World Cups being contested between Australia, England, France and New Zealand and the fact rugby league is most popular in these regions they have regularly hosted the World Cup between themselves. World Cups in [[1985–88 Rugby League World Cup|1985–88]] and [[1989-92 Rugby League World Cup|1989–92]] were all jointly hosted by the four founding nations.

New Zealand has never solely hosted a World Cup but they have co-hosted with Australia on three occasions with 2017 also jointly co-hosted with Papua New Guinea. England have co-hosted once with Wales in 2013 although the 2000 World Cup was played across the UK as well as some games in Ireland and France.

France hosted the first World Cup in 1954 and again in 1972 as well as hosting games at the 2000 and 2013 World Cups.

Despite the World Cup mainly being hosted by England, Australia, France and New Zealand, countries such as [[UAE]], [[South Africa]] and the United States and [[Canada]] have applied to host the tournament in the past. 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left"
|+ Total of World Cup competitions hosted by each confederation (1954–2026)<br />''{{small|Confederation and year in bold has an upcoming competition.}}''
|-
! scope="row" | Confederation
! scope="col" style=width:4em:| Total
! scope="col" class="unsortable" style="width:25em" | Hosts
|-
| [[Asia-Pacific Rugby League Confederation|Asia-Pacific]]
| 6
| [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}<br />[[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}, {{flag|New Zealand}}<br />[[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}, {{flag|New Zealand}}*<br />[[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}, {{flag|New Zealand}}<br />[[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}<br /> [[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}, {{flag|New Zealand}}, {{flag|Papua New Guinea}}<br /> [[2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2026]]:<br />{{flag|Australia}}
|-
| [[European Rugby League|Europe]]
| 9
| [[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954]]:<br />{{flag|France}}<br />[[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960]]:<br />{{flag|Great Britain}}<br />[[1970 Rugby League World Cup|1970]]:<br />{{flag|Great Britain}}<br />[[1972 Rugby League World Cup|1972]]:<br />{{flag|France}},<br />[[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975]]:<br />{{flag|France}}, {{flag|Great Britain}}*<br />[[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]]:<br />{{flag|England}}, {{flag|Wales}}<br />[[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]]:<br />{{flag|England}}, {{flag|France}}, {{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Ireland]], {{flag|Scotland}}, {{flag|Wales}}<br />[[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]]:<br />{{flag|England}}, {{flag|Wales}}<br />[[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021]]:<br />{{flag|England}}
|-
|Middle East-Africa
| 0
| 
|-
| Americas
| 0
| 
|}

*Co-hosted between confederation

''NB'': As [[Great Britain national rugby league team|Great Britain]] was the [[International Rugby League|IRL]] nation until 1995, the United Kingdom is used to refer to host nations before this time regardless of the number of [[home nations]] which actually hosted the tournament.

=== Stadiums ===
{{main|Rugby League World Cup venues}}
In total, 81 stadiums have hosted world cup games over the 14 tournaments. [[Headingley Carnegie Rugby Stadium|Headingley Stadium]] in [[Leeds]] has hosted the tournament the most times, having had games in eight world cups with [[Central Park (Wigan)|Central Park]], [[Wigan]] and [[Lang Park]], [[Brisbane]] having hosted six tournaments. 52 stadiums have hosted matches in just one tournament. The most stadiums used in a tournament was in 2000 when 26 stadiums were used; the stadium capacity was the highest ever at 704,400. However, the occupancy was also the lowest ever at just 37.46%.

The largest stadium in terms of capacity ever used was [[Wembley Stadium]], [[London]] with a seating capacity of 90,000; the stadium was used in the 2013 tournament as the venue for the semi-final double-header. The smallest stadium ever used was also in 2013 when [[The Gnoll]], [[Neath]], with a capacity of 5,000 hosted a game between [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] and [[Cook Islands national rugby league team|Cook Islands]]. Despite this, it was not the lowest attended game; this was in the 2000 World Cup when just 1,497 attended the game between [[Wales national rugby league team|Wales]] and [[Lebanon national rugby league team|Lebanon]] at [[Stradey Park]], [[Llanelli]].

The cities with the most stadiums used are [[Sydney]] and London with 4 each. [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] and [[Auckland]] are the cities with the next highest number with 3 each.

{| class="wikitable"
!Rank!!Country!!Stadiums
|-
|1
|{{ENG}}
|33
|-
|2
|{{AUS}}
|21
|-
|3
|{{FRA}}
|13
|-
|4
|{{WAL}}
|7
|-
|5
|{{NZL}}
|6
|-
|6
||{{flagicon|IRE|rugby league}} [[Ireland]]
|3
|-
|rowspan=2|7
|{{PNG}}
|2
|-
|{{SCO}}
|2
|}

== Results ==
{{Further|List of Rugby League World Cup finals}}
<!--Home nations of the United Kingdom were not affiliated with the IRL prior to 1995, Wikipedia should reflect this. See "Wikipedia:Recentism" -->

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 100%;"
! rowspan="2" width="1%" |Ed
! rowspan="2" width="5%" |Year
! rowspan="2" width="10%" |Host
| rowspan="22" width="1%" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden;border-bottom-style:hidden;" |
! colspan="3" |Final
| rowspan="22" width="1%" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden;border-bottom-style:hidden;" |
! colspan="2" |Third / fourth place
| rowspan="22" width="1%" style="background-color:#ffffff;border-top-style:hidden;border-bottom-style:hidden;" |
! rowspan="2" width="4%" |Number of teams
|-
! width="14%" |Winners
! width="10%" |Score
! width="14%" |Runners-up
! width="14%" |Third place
! width="14%" |Fourth place
|- style="height: 5em;"
!1
|[[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954]]
|align=left|{{flag|France|1794}}
|'''{{nowrap|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}}}'''
|[[1954 Rugby League World Cup final|16&ndash;12]]
|{{rl-big|France}}
|{{rl-big|Australia}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|4
|-
|-style="height: 5em;"
!2
|[[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]]
|align=left|{{flag|Australia}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|{{nowrap|[[Round robin tournament|round-robin]]}}
|{{nowrap|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}}}
|{{nowrap|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}}}
|{{rl-big|France|1794}}
|4
|-
|-style="height: 5em;"
!3
|[[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960]]
|align=left|{{nowrap|{{Great Britain}}}}
|'''{{rl-big|Great Britain}}'''
|[[Round robin tournament|round-robin]]
|{{rl-big|Australia}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|{{rl-big|France}}
|4
|-
|-style="height: 5em;"
!4
|[[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]]
|align=left|{{nowrap|{{flag|Australia}}<br />{{flag|New Zealand}}}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[1968 Rugby League World Cup final|20&ndash;2]]
|{{rl-big|France}}
|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}
|{{nowrap|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}}}
|4
|-
|-style="height: 5em;"
!5
|[[1970 Rugby League World Cup|1970]]
|align=left|{{Great Britain}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[1970 Rugby League World Cup final|12&ndash;7]]
|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}
|{{rl-big|France}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|4
|-
!6
|[[1972 Rugby League World Cup|1972]]
|align=left|{{flag|France}}
|'''{{rl-big|Great Britain}}'''
|[[1972 Rugby League World Cup final|10&ndash;10]]<br />{{aet}}{{efn|Despite the 1972 Final ending in a draw, Great Britain were awarded the World Cup having finished top in the group stage.}} 
|{{rl-big|Australia}}
|{{rl-big|France}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|4
|-
!7
|[[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975]]
|align=left|{{AUS}}<br />{{FRA}}<br />{{NZL}}<br />{{UK}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[Round robin tournament|round-robin]]{{efn|Despite a game being played after the final Group game, this was not a Final as Australia had already been crowned Champions.}}
|{{rl-big|England}}
|{{rl-big|Wales}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|5{{efn|the 1975 World Cup was expanded to 5 teams as England and Wales entered instead of Great Britain. No Scottish or Irish players made the original Great Britain squad.}}
|-
!8
|[[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977]]
|align=left|{{AUS}}<br />{{NZL}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[1977 Rugby League World Cup final|13&ndash;12]]
|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|{{rl-big|France|1974}}
|4
|-
!9
|[[1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup|1985–1988]]
|align=left rowspan=3|home-and-away basis
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[1988 Rugby League World Cup final|25&ndash;12]]
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|{{rl-big|Great Britain}}
|{{rl-big|PNG}}
|5
|-
!rowspan=2|10
|rowspan=2|[[1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup|1989–1992]]
|rowspan="2" |'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|rowspan="2" |[[1992 Rugby League World Cup final|10&ndash;6]]
|rowspan="2" |{{rl-big|Great Britain}}
|{{rl-big|France|1974}}
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
|rowspan=2|5
|-
! colspan=2 | Losing semi finalists{{efn|Until 1995 the world cup was a round robin system with the top two playing in the final. From 1995 the world cup changed to a groups and knockout format. }}
|-
!11
|[[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]]
|align=left|{{ENG}}<br />{{WAL}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[1995 Rugby League World Cup final|16&ndash;8]]
|{{rl-big|England}}
|colspan=2|{{rl|New Zealand}} and {{rl|Wales}}
|10
|-
!12
|[[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]]
|align=left|{{flag|England}}<br />{{flag|France|1974}}<br />{{flag|Ireland|rugby league}}<br />{{flag|Scotland}}<br />{{flag|Wales}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[2000 Rugby League World Cup final|40&ndash;12]]
|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}
| colspan=2|{{rl|England}}  and {{rl|Wales}}
|16
|-
!13
|[[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]]
|align=left|{{AUS}}
|'''{{nowrap|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}}}'''
|[[2008 Rugby League World Cup final|34&ndash;20]]
|{{rl-big|Australia}}
| colspan=2|{{rl|England}} and {{rl|Fiji}}
|10
|-
!14
|[[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]]
|align=left|{{flag|England}}<br />{{flag|Wales}}{{efn|Despite England and Wales were sole designated hosts, some matches were played in Ireland and France}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[2013 Rugby League World Cup final|34&ndash;2]]
|{{nowrap|{{rl-big|New Zealand}}}}
| colspan=2|{{rl|England}} and {{rl|Fiji}}
|14
|-
!15
|[[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017]]
|align=left|{{AUS}}<br />{{NZL}}<br />{{PNG}}<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-08/papua-new-guinea-to-co-host-rugby-league-world-cup-2017/6838012 |title=Papua New Guinea to co-host Rugby League World Cup in 2017 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=8 October 2015 |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |publisher=[[Australian Associated Press]] |access-date=8 October 2015}}</ref> 
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[2017 Rugby League World Cup final|6–0]]
|{{rl-big|England}}
| colspan=2|{{rl|Fiji}} and {{rl|Tonga}}
|14
|-
!16
|[[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2021]]{{efn|Postponed to 2022 due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]}}
|align=left|{{ENG}}
|'''{{rl-big|Australia}}'''
|[[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup final|30–10]]
|{{rl-big|Samoa}}
| colspan=2|{{rl|ENG}} and {{rl|NZL}}
|16
|-
!17
|[[2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2026]]
|align=left|{{AUS}}{{efn|Australia are the host nation but some games will be played in Papua New Guinea}}
|'''TBD'''
|[[2026 Rugby League World Cup|–]]
|TBD
| colspan=2|''Future events''
|10
|-
!18
|[[2030 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2030]]
|align=left|{{flagicon image|Flag of none.svg}} TBA
|colspan=3|''Future events''
|colspan=2|''Future events''
|16
|}
Notes;
{{notelist}}
===Summary ===
In total, 21 teams have competed at the World Cup. Of these, only three have won the World Cup, with Australia being by far the most successful with 12 titles. Great Britain has won three titles, however since 1995 have competed separately as England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. New Zealand became only the third team to win the World Cup in 2008.
England, France and Samoa are the only teams to have played in the final and not won. Wales' best result was third under the old format and have made the semi-finals twice while Fiji have appeared in three while Tonga have made the semi-finals just once.
Papua New Guinea achieved fourth place under the old format and have made it to three quarter-finals. Four other teams; Ireland, Lebanon, Scotland and the USA have all made the quarter-finals bringing the total amount of teams to reach the knockout stage to 14.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ Top four finishes
|-
! Team !! Champions !! Runners-up !! Third / Fourth / Semi-finals!!Top four total
|-
|style="background:gold"|'''{{nowrap|{{rl|Australia}}}}'''
|style="background:gold"|'''12''' (1957, 1968, 1970, 1975, 1977, 1988, 1992, 1995, 2000, 2013, 2017, 2021)
|'''3''' (1960, 1972, 2008)
|'''1''' (1954)
|16
|-
|style="background:gold"|'''''{{nowrap|{{rl|Great Britain}}}}'''''{{efn|Great Britain ceased to compete in the World Cup from 1995 onwards with independent governing bodies for Scotland and Wales affiliating themselves with the [[International Rugby League|IRL]] in 1994 and 1995 respectfully}}
|style="background:gold"|'''3''' (1954, 1960, 1972)
|'''4''' (1957, 1970, 1977, 1992)
|'''2''' (1968, 1988)
|9
|-
|style="background:gold"|'''{{nowrap|{{rl|New Zealand}}}}'''
|style="background:gold"|'''1''' (2008)
|'''3''' (1985–88, 2000, 2013)
|'''11''' (1954, 1957, 1960, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1992, 1995, 2021)
|15
|-
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|{{rl|England}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|'''3''' (1975, 1995, 2017)
|'''4''' (2000, 2008, 2013, 2021)
|7
|-
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|{{rl|France}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|'''2''' (1954, 1968)
|'''6''' (1957, 1960, 1970, 1972, 1977, 1992)
|8
|-
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|{{rl|Samoa}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#C0C0C0"|
'''1''' (2021)
|{{no2}}
|1
|-
|style="background:#cc9966"|{{rl|Wales}}
|{{no2}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#cc9966"|
'''3''' (1975, 1995, 2000)
|3
|-
|style="background:#cc9966"|{{rl|Fiji}}
|{{no2}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#cc9966"|
'''3''' (2008, 2013, 2017)
|3
|-
|style="background:#cc9966"|{{rl|Papua New Guinea}}
|{{no2}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#cc9966"|
'''1''' (1988)
|1
|-
|style="background:#cc9966"|{{rl|Tonga}}
|{{no2}}
|{{no2}}
|style="background:#cc9966"|
'''1''' (2017)
|1
|}

== Records ==
{{Main|Rugby League World Cup records}}

=== Attendance ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Hosts
!rowspan="2"| Matches
!rowspan="2"| {{Abbr|Avg.|Average}} <br />attendance 
!rowspan="2"| Total<br />attendance
!colspan="3"| Highest attendances 
|-
! Figure
! class="unsortable"|Venue
! Match(es)
|-
| [[1954 Rugby League World Cup|1954]]
| {{FRA}} || 7 || 19,761 || 138,329 || 37,471            || [[Stadium de Toulouse]]|| {{rl|FRA}} 13–13 {{rl|GB}} <br /> Group Stage
|-
| [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]] 
|{{AUS}}|| 6 || 35,820 || 214,918 || 58,655|| [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] || {{rl|AUS}} 31–6 {{rl|GB}}
|-
| [[1960 Rugby League World Cup|1960]]
|{{UK}} || 6 || 18,376 || 110,200 || 33,023|| [[Odsal Stadium]] || {{rl|GB}} 10–3 {{rl|AUS}}
|-
| [[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]] 
|{{AUS}} {{NZL}}|| 7 || 31,562 || 220,683 || 62,256|| [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] || {{rl|AUS}} 25–10 {{rl|GB}}<br /> Group Stage
|-
| [[1970 Rugby League World Cup|1970]]
|{{UK}} || 7 || 9,816  || 68,710  || 18,775|| [[Headingley Rugby Stadium|Headingley]] || {{rl|GB}} 7–12 {{rl|AUS}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[1972 Rugby League World Cup|1972]] 
|{{FRA}}|| 7 || 8,922  || 62,456  || 20,748|| [[Stade Vélodrome]]  || {{rl|FRA}} 20–9 {{rl|NZL}}<br /> Group Stage
|-
| [[1975 Rugby League World Cup|1975]]
| {{AUS}} {{FRA}} {{NZL}} {{UK}} || 21 || 9,737 || 204,476 || 33,858  || [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] || {{rl|AUS}} 10–10 {{rl|ENG}}<br /> Group Stage
|-
| [[1977 Rugby League World Cup|1977]] 
|{{AUS}} {{NZL}} || 7 || 15,670 || 109,688  || 27,000|| [[Lang Park]]||{{rl|AUS}} 19–5 {{rl|GB}}<br /> Group Stage
|-
| [[1985–1988 Rugby League World Cup|1985–88]]
|No fixed host ||18|| 12,125 || 218,246 || 47,363||[[Eden Park]]||{{rl|NZL}} 12–25 {{rl|AUS}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup|1989–92]]
|No fixed host ||21|| 14,289 || 300,059  ||73,631 || [[Old Wembley Stadium]]|| {{rl|GB}} 6–10 {{rl|AUS}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]]
|{{ENG}} || 15|| 17,707 || 265,609  || 66,540|| [[Old Wembley Stadium]] || {{rl|ENG}} 8–16 {{rl|AUS}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[2000 Rugby League World Cup|2000]]
|{{ENG}} {{FRA}} {{flagicon|Ireland|rugby league}} [[Ireland]]<br /> {{SCO}} {{WAL}} || 31||8,514 || 263,921  || 44,329|| [[Old Trafford]] || {{rl|AUS}} 40–12 {{rl|NZL}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]]
| {{AUS}} || 18|| 16,302 || 293,442  || 50,599|| [[Lang Park]] || {{rl|AUS}} 20–34 {{rl|NZL}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]]
|{{ENG}} {{WAL}} || 28||16,374 || 458,483  || 74,468 || [[Old Trafford]]||{{rl|AUS}} 34–2 {{rl|NZL}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[2017 Rugby League World Cup|2017]] 
|{{AUS}} {{NZL}} <br /> {{PNG}}|| 28|| 13,338 || 373,461  ||40,033|| [[Lang Park]] || {{rl|AUS}} 6–0 {{rl|ENG}}<br /> Final
|-
| [[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup|2021]]
|{{ENG}} || 31|| 13,667 ||423,689  || 67,502 || [[Old Trafford]] || {{rl|AUS}} 30–10 {{rl|SAM}}<br /> Final
|-
! Total|| {{n/a}} || 258|| 14,443 ||3,726,370  || 74,468 || [[Old Trafford]] || {{rl|AUS}} 34–2 {{rl|NZL}}<br /> [[2013 Rugby League World Cup final|2013 Final]]
|}

=== Match attendance ===
Top 10 match attendances.

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="text-align:center;font-size:95%"
|-
!scope="col"|Rank
!scope="col" |Attendance
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Stadium
!scope="col" |Year
!scope="col"|Stage
|- 
|1
|74,468
|[[Old Trafford]]
| [[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]] 
|[[2013 Rugby League World Cup final|Final]]
|-
|2
|73,631
| [[Wembley Stadium (1923)]]
| [[1989–1992 Rugby League World Cup|1989–92]]|| [[1992 Rugby League World Cup final|Final]] 
|-
|3
|67,575
|[[Wembley Stadium]]
| [[2013 Rugby League World Cup|2013]] || [[2013 Rugby League World Cup|Semi-final double header]] 
|-
|4
|67,502
|[[Old Trafford]]
| [[2021 Rugby League World Cup|2021]] || [[2021 Men's Rugby League World Cup final|Final]] 
|-
|5
|66,540
| [[Wembley Stadium (1923)]]
| [[1995 Rugby League World Cup|1995]] 
| [[1995 Rugby League World Cup final|Final]] 
|-
|6
|62,256
|[[Sydney Cricket Ground]]
| [[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]] 
|[[1968 Rugby League World Cup|Group stage]] 
|-
|7
|58,655
| [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] 
| [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]] 
|[[1957 Rugby League World Cup|Group stage]] 
|-
|8
|54,290
| [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] 
| [[1968 Rugby League World Cup|1968]] 
|[[1968 Rugby League World Cup final|Final]]
|-
|9
|50,599
|[[Lang Park]]
| [[2008 Rugby League World Cup|2008]] 
|[[2008 Rugby League World Cup final|Final]] 
|-
|10
|50,077
| [[Sydney Cricket Ground]] 
| [[1957 Rugby League World Cup|1957]] 
|[[1957 Rugby League World Cup|Group stage]] 
|-
|}

== See also ==
{{Portal|Sports}}

* [[Women's Rugby League World Cup]]
* [[Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup]]
* [[International Rugby League]]
* [[List of rugby league competitions]]
* [[Rugby League World Cup 9s]]
* [[Tertiary Student Rugby League World Cup]]

== Notes ==
{{reflist|group=n}}
{{notelist}}

== References ==

=== Inline ===
{{reflist|30em}}

=== General ===
* {{cite book   | last = Folkard  | first = Claire  | title = Guinness World Records 2003   | publisher = Bantam Books  | year = 2003  | url = https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec2003folk  | url-access = registration  | isbn=9780553586367 |ref=Folkard2003}}
* {{cite book |last=McCann|first=Liam|year=2006 |title=Rugby: Facts, Figures and Fun |publisher=AAPPL | url =https://books.google.com/books?id=CDk7MpyX4jUC|isbn=9781904332541 |ref=McCann2006}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.sparc.org.nz/Documents/media%20releases/NZRL-Independent-Review.pdf |title=Rugby League - Contributing to New Zealand's Future |author=Independent Review Committee |location=New Zealand |publisher=[[Sport and Recreation New Zealand|SPARC]] |date=February 2009 |access-date=13 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522180935/http://www.sparc.org.nz/Documents/media%20releases/NZRL-Independent-Review.pdf |archive-date=2010-05-22 |ref=SPARC-2009 |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=35450|title=20 TEAMS TO VIE FOR WORLD CUP GLORY IN 2013|author=Rleague.com|publisher=[International Rugby League]|date=February 23, 2010|access-date=February 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100305194821/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=35450|archive-date=March 5, 2010|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Rugby League World Cup}}
* [http://www.rugbyleagueworldcup.com Official Rugby League World Cup Website]
* [http://www.rlif.com Rugby League International Federation]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/world_cup_2000/969083.stm BBC website], History (1954–2000) retrieved 2 May 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060522110308/http://www.rlef.eu.com/newsstory.php?id=184 "RLIF Meeting"], 2008 World Cup European Rugby League Federation, retrieved May 8, 2006
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=4&ObjectID=10380629 "Kiwi hangover after the hype"], 2013 World Cup retrieved 8 May 2006
* [http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/superleague/worldcup.php Rugby League World Cup at napit.co.uk]

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|author1=Andrews, Malcolm  |author2=Butcher, Tim |name-list-style=amp |title=The Rugby League World Cup|year=2009|publisher=League Publications|isbn=9781901347203 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mdBKPwAACAAJ}}

{{Rugby League World Cup}}
{{International Rugby League}}
{{Main world cups}}
{{Main world championships}}

[[Category:Rugby League World Cup| ]]
[[Category:World championships in rugby league]]
[[Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1954]]
[[Category:Quadrennial sporting events]]