{"id":236945,"date":"2025-10-24T06:42:08","date_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:42:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/236945\/"},"modified":"2025-10-24T06:42:08","modified_gmt":"2025-10-24T06:42:08","slug":"favourites-to-host-2030-rugby-league-world-cup-revealed-nrl-opening-round-likely-to-shift-nrl-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/236945\/","title":{"rendered":"Favourites to host 2030 Rugby League World Cup revealed, NRL opening round likely to shift – NRL News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Rugby League<\/a> World Cup could have another crack at trying to crack the American market, with a big push reportedly on to host the 2030 version of the tournament there, while the opening matches of the NRL<\/a> season could also be on the move.<\/p>\n

The Rugby League<\/a> World Cup of 2026 was originally supposed to be hosted by the USA<\/a> and Canada in 2025.<\/p>\n

Investment for that tournament eventually fell through, and the hosting rights were transferred to France<\/a>. The abandonment of government support for that to happen eventually saw the tournament delayed by a year, with hosting rights handed to Australia<\/a>, with assistance from Papua New Guinea<\/a> and New Zealand<\/a>, who will host their own nation’s matches.<\/p>\n

The next men’s tournament will then be held in 2030.<\/p>\n

The IRL have already confirmed Kenya, New Zealand<\/a>, Papua New Guinea<\/a>, South Africa, and the United States have placed bids to host the 2030 tournament, but journalist Steve Mascord has revealed there is a push for the US to be awarded hosting rights.<\/p>\n

I have now heard from two completely unrelated sources that there is a BIG push on for the 2030 @rugbyleaguewcup<\/a> to be in the US, building on the back of Vegas. The opening round of the @NRL<\/a> would move to Wembley in 2029.<\/p>\n

\u2014 \u26a1Steve Mascord\u2620\ufe0f (@SteveMascord) October 23, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

He has also revealed the NRL<\/a> are looking at shifting its opening round to London’s Wembley Stadium following the conclusion of a five-year agreement with Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

That agreement will expire after the 2028 set of matches, although it’s understood that both sides of the agreement have a cancellable option included each year.<\/p>\n

The potential shuffle to Wembley comes with the NRL<\/a> still looking at what an investment or stake in the English Super League<\/a> competition looks like, although talks between the Australian Rugby League<\/a> Commission and Rugby Football League appear to have gone cold in recent times.<\/p>\n

The IRL have not revealed when they will announce the host of the 2030 men’s World Cup.<\/p>\n