USA and Pacific Islands chosen to host the 2030 Rugby League World Cup

The 2030 Rugby League World Cup will take place in the USA and the Pacific Islands, with five host cities still to be decided. Both the men's and women's tournaments will run at the same time, following the format of the ongoing tournament in Australia. International Rugby League chairman Tony Grant announced the decision at the board meeting in Sydney to help grow the sport in new countries. The men's tournament will grow from 10 teams to 12, and the women's event will feature 10 teams instead of eight. Tournament formats are still being discussed after asking nations for feedback, and Samoa and Tonga may be promoted to Tier One alongside Australia, England and New Zealand. Meanwhile, the 2030 Wheelchair World Cup will happen in France, and the 2034 tournament will take place in Europe.

Context

Hosting major sports events across different regions is a common way for global sports bodies to build new fan bases and increase television viewership. Expanding team counts gives more countries a chance to compete at the highest level of international competition.