The final two men’s teams at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be decided through sudden-death play-offs this autumn.
International Rugby League (IRL) today confirmed France will host Jamaica in Albi on October 25 and Cook Islands will meet South Africa in a shootout played alongside the Pacific Championships, probably the same month.
The winners will join Australia, England, Fiji, Lebanon, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga at next year’s 2026 event.
The 2026 tournament, staged in Australia and Papua New Guinea, will be the last time the men’s, women’s and wheelchair World Cups are staged simultaneously.
After that, the three formats will then be split with a stand-alone women’s World Cup to be held in 2028, the wheelchair World Cup in 2029 and men’s tournament in 2030.
France, who beat Wales in the final of the European qualifying tournament after overcoming Ukraine at the semi-final stage, will host the northern hemisphere play-off against Jamaica as the higher ranked nation.
Cook Islands are participating in the Pacific Championships and have ‘home’ advantage against South Africa as the highest ranked side.
French rugby league president Dominique Baloup said: “We are delighted to welcome Jamaica to France for the final stages of the IRL Rugby League World Cup qualifiers.
“This match is very important for both teams and home advantage is essential for us. The support of the French public reinforces our team’s efforts, as it did during last year’s European qualifiers.”
Jamaica’s director of rugby Romeo Monteith admitted his nation face a tough challenge. He said: “Rugby League Jamaica is looking forward to the men’s qualifiers.
“With the format confirmed, our focus is now solely on doing our best in France in what will be an extremely difficult showdown.
“When we last played in France we played in front of a large crowd and it was a fantastic experience which we hope to repeat this autumn.”
Cook Islands’ chairman Charles Carlson insisted: “Our dream has always been to compete on the greatest stage at the Rugby League World Cup.
“Though we are a small nation competing at this elite level, vision with passion and determination know no bounds.
“No doubt South Africa will be a formidable opponent, but we will rise to the challenge and make our people and nation proud.”
South Africa will be heavy underdogs, but their president Frans Erasmus insisted: “We are looking forward to this critical clash with the Cook Islands.
“The Rhinos will play with passion and typical South African pride and we understand that only victory leads to World Cup 2026.
“Our players, staff, and fans are united behind a single goal – to show the world the true heart of South African Rugby League.”
France’s only previous meeting with Jamaica was in 2017 when the European team won 34-12 in front of a crowd of more 6,500 in Perpignan.
Cook Islands and South Africa have also met only once previously, a 66-6 win to the Cooks in 2019 in Sydney.
