The Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-finals are set: New Zealand play Tonga on Saturday 7 November and Australia play Samoa on Sunday 8 November, with both games kicking off at 8:05 PM AEDT. The winners meet in the final at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, on 15 November.
RLWC 2026 semi-final fixtures
| Semi-final | Match | Date | Venue | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First | New Zealand vs Tonga | Sat 7 Nov | McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle | 8:05 PM AEDT |
| Second | Australia vs Samoa | Sun 8 Nov | Allianz Stadium, Sydney | 8:05 PM AEDT |
How the four teams got there
- Australia won Pool A with three wins: 24–22 against New Zealand, 36–22 against Fiji and 66–6 against the Cook Islands.
- New Zealand finished second in Pool A. They lost 22–24 to Australia, then beat the Cook Islands 82–16 and Fiji 78–0.
- Tonga topped the combined Pool B and C table with three wins: 30–12 against England, 36–0 against Lebanon and 20–18 against Samoa.
- Samoa finished second in that table. They beat France 78–4 and Papua New Guinea 64–6, then lost 18–20 to Tonga.
The full tables are on our pools page, and every score is on the results page.
Semi-final kick-off time in your timezone
Both semi-finals kick off at the same time of day, so these times work for either match.
| Region | Local time (Saturday 7 or Sunday 8 November) |
|---|---|
| Australia, Sydney and Newcastle (AEDT) | 8:05 PM |
| Australia, Brisbane (AEST) | 7:05 PM |
| Australia, Perth (AWST) | 5:05 PM |
| New Zealand (NZDT) | 10:05 PM |
| Tonga and Samoa | 10:05 PM |
| Fiji | 9:05 PM |
| Papua New Guinea | 7:05 PM |
| Bangladesh | 3:05 PM |
| India | 2:35 PM |
| Pakistan | 2:05 PM |
| South Africa | 11:05 AM |
| France (CET) | 10:05 AM |
| United Kingdom (GMT) | 9:05 AM |
| USA Eastern (EST) | 4:05 AM |
| USA Pacific (PST) | 1:05 AM |
How to watch the semi-finals
- Australia: Seven, free-to-air, and 7plus Sport, free with an account.
- New Zealand: Sky Sport, and ThreeNow for the free-to-air coverage.
- UK, Ireland, USA and Canada: Premier Sports.
- Everywhere else: check the official RLWC 2026 site for your local broadcaster.
Our full how to watch guide lists more countries. Rights can change, so confirm with your broadcaster.
Semi-final guides
- New Zealand vs Tonga: live, how to watch and preview
- Australia vs Samoa: live, how to watch and preview
- Round 3 results and the Tonga vs Samoa result
- Women's semi-finals: New Zealand vs Samoa and Australia vs Fiji
Frequently asked questions
Who plays in the Rugby League World Cup 2026 semi-finals?
New Zealand play Tonga on Saturday 7 November in Newcastle, and Australia play Samoa on Sunday 8 November in Sydney.
What time are the RLWC 2026 semi-finals?
Both kick off at 8:05 PM AEDT. That is 9:05 AM in the UK, 3:05 PM in Bangladesh, 10:05 PM in New Zealand, Tonga and Samoa, and 4:05 AM US Eastern.
Where are the semi-finals played?
New Zealand vs Tonga is at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle. Australia vs Samoa is at Allianz Stadium, Sydney.
When is the Rugby League World Cup 2026 final?
The final is on 15 November 2026 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
What happens if a semi-final is a draw?
A knockout match level after 80 minutes goes to extra time, then to golden point if it is still level.