New Zealand vs Tonga is the first semi-final of the Rugby League World Cup 2026, at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, on Saturday 7 November at 8:05 PM AEDT. This preview covers how both teams got here and their history at World Cups.
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How New Zealand got here
New Zealand opened with a 22–24 loss to Australia, then beat the Cook Islands 82–16 and Fiji 78–0. That was enough for second place in Pool A, and they scored 182 points in three games.
How Tonga got here
Tonga won all three matches: 30–12 against England, 36–0 against Lebanon and 20–18 against Samoa in the last game of the pool stage. This is their first semi-final since 2017, when they lost 20–18 to England.
New Zealand vs Tonga head-to-head
The most notable World Cup meeting is from 2017, when Tonga beat New Zealand 28–22 in Hamilton in the pool stage. The two sides have not met yet at this tournament.
Team news
Team lists are not confirmed in this article. We will update it once the official sides are named.
What happens next
The winner reaches the Rugby League World Cup final and plays Australia or Samoa. A match level after 80 minutes goes to extra time, then golden point. The final is on 15 November at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.
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Frequently asked questions
When is New Zealand vs Tonga?
Saturday 7 November, 8:05 PM AEDT, at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle.
How did New Zealand qualify?
New Zealand finished second in Pool A, losing 22–24 to Australia before beating the Cook Islands 82–16 and Fiji 78–0.
How did Tonga qualify?
Tonga won all three matches and topped the combined Pool B and C table: 30–12 against England, 36–0 against Lebanon and 20–18 against Samoa.
Are the New Zealand vs Tonga team lists out?
Not on this page yet. We add team lists once the official sides are confirmed.