Australia meet New Zealand to open Rugby League World Cup in Sydney

Defending champions Australia meet New Zealand to open the 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup in Sydney.

Kick-off is at 8:05pm local time on 15 Oct 2026 at Allianz Stadium, which is 10:05am BST and 10:05pm NZDT. The game is a Pool A Round 1 fixture, pitting the two tournament favourites against each other from the start, according to The Guardian.

The stakes are simple. Australia entered the tournament as holders after winning nine of the past 10 World Cups. New Zealand started alongside them as joint favourites. Australia were also chasing a 13th title overall, Reuters reported.

This is the 17th edition of the tournament, which was first held in 1954. It looks different from recent editions. The 2026 event features 10 nations and 18 matches, down from 16 teams and 31 matches.

The road here was bumpy. The World Cup was originally planned for France in 2025. France pulled out after the French government withdrew funding, and the tournament was reshaped and delayed.

Australia named Reece Walsh at No. 1 for the opener, NRL.com reported. That is fullback, the last line of defence and often the first spark in attack. The opener was set to be played before 40,000 fans in Sydney.

For newcomers, this is rugby league. Each side has 13 players. A team gets six tackles, or plays, to score before the ball hands over. That countdown drives everything: field position, kicking and how quickly teams finish their sets.

What makes this stand out is the pairing. Most World Cups ease in. This one starts with the two strongest squads meeting on night one. The winner takes early control of Pool A.

Samoa v France follows on Friday 16 October at CommBank Stadium, kicking off at 5:45pm AEDT.