It’s almost here!

This event will be held in Australia in October/November 2026. In addition to the Wheelchair event, Men and Women's Open Rugby League will also be played. At this point, six teams have qualified for the wheelchair tournament- France, Australia, England, Wales, New Zealand and the United States, with two teams to be added. The mens and womens teams are in the process of qualifying. 

USARL Chair Matt Goschnick said: “Competing in any World Cup is a privilege, especially with limited places on offer. The USARL Wheel Hawks’ qualification for back-to-back World Cups is a proud achievement reflecting the dedication of our players, coaches, and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to establish and grow this program. As the sole US representative in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup programme, their resilience and commitment deserve full recognition.

“This opportunity goes far beyond the sport. We hope to leverage our participation in the World Cup not only to raise awareness and grow the game, but to build an inclusive community that creates new fans, inspires new players, and supports our patriotic veteran population—over 5.5 million of whom live with service-connected disabilities. Through Wheelchair Rugby League, we hope to aid reintegration, restore confidence, and open doors to new opportunities.

“Our mission is not just to compete at the highest level, but to create lasting impact, empower individuals, and expand the reach of this incredible sport across the United States.”
RLWC2026 will be the fifth Wheelchair World Cup, with the first staged in Australia in 2008, England hosting in 2013 and 2022 (RLWC2021), and France hosting in 2017.

The World Cup will also mark 20 years since the first Wheelchair international when Great Britain were defeated 20-6 by France on June 3, 2006.

USARL Wheel Hawks coach Geoff Mason added: “The USARL Wheel Hawks proudly welcome the invitation to compete in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia. We’re eager to build on the momentum from our debut at the 2021 World Cup, where Team USA made an immediate impact—defeating Scotland 62-41 in our opening match and delivering a competitive performance against a highly ranked Wales side, falling just short at 32-50.

“This next opportunity represents another significant step forward in our journey. We are honoured to carry the US flag on the world stage and showcase the strength, growth, and potential of our team and program. The potential for wheelchair rugby league in the United States is enormous, and we’re confident this is only the beginning. Our goal is to continue raising the profile of the sport, expand our talent base, and inspire the next generation of athletes across the country.”