Rugby League World Cup 2026: holders Australia open against New Zealand as slimmed-down race begins

Holders Australia start the defence of the Men's Rugby League World Cup at home against New Zealand on Thursday, opening a slimmed-down 10-team tournament with no quarter-finals.

Four semi-final places are on offer straight after the group stage. Two will come from the four-team Group A, while the three sides in Group B play the three sides in Group C, with the top two from that combined table going through, according to the Guardian preview.

It is a sharp change from the last World Cup. The men's event was cut from 16 teams to 10, with 18 games instead of 31.

Australia remain the team to beat. They arrived as defending champions and hosts, having lifted the trophy 12 times before this tournament.

Kevin Walters leads them as head coach, with Isaah Yeo as captain. They will have to do it without Nathan Cleary, who misses the squad through injury. Sam Walker is among the new Kangaroos faces called in for the campaign.

New Zealand stand first in their way. Stacey Jones coaches the Kiwis, with James Fisher-Harris as captain. New Zealand's sole World Cup triumph came in 2008, when they broke Australia's run of titles.

England travel with a familiar near-miss history. Coached by Brian McDermott and captained by George Williams, they have finished runners-up three times, in 1975, 1995 and 2017.

Their route is clear. England face Tonga on Saturday, then meet Papua New Guinea and France in the group stage. In league, where each team gets six tackles to push upfield before handing over the ball, those three games will test completion rates and nerve in equal measure.

Fiji bring pedigree as party-spoilers. Mick Potter is head coach and Api Koroisau is captain. Fiji reached the semi-finals in 2008, 2013 and 2017, playing the fast, offloading style that has made them neutrals' favourites in past tournaments.

Cook Islands arrive chasing history. Coached by Karmichael Hunt and co-captained by KL Iro and Marata Niukore, they have never reached the knockout stages, where one defeat ends a team's tournament. Their previous best was appearing in the group stage in 2000, 2013 and 2022.

For fans, this means less margin for error. One slow start can decide a semi-final place. With fewer teams and fewer games, every carry counts from the first whistle.