Cedars star Alex Twal has urged Lebanon fans to get their tickets for the nation’s World Cup matches at CommBank Stadium to prevent Tonga and Samoa supporters from dominating the crowds.

Twal joined Jillaroos stars Jessica Sergis and Keilee Joseph at Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal to celebrate 50 Days To Go until Rugby League World Cup 2026 kicks off.

The best and most competitive Rugby League World Cup since the concept began in 1954 will feature 26 teams representing 14 nations in Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair tournaments.

RLWC26 gets underway with the heavyweight clash between the Kangaroos and Kiwis at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, October 15 before the Jillaroos headline a double-header at CommBank Stadium on Friday October 16 against Fetu Samoa, with Toa Samoa to play France in the earlier game.

Lebanon open their World Cup campaign at Santos National Stadium in Port Moresby against the PNG Kumuls before back-to-back matches at CommBank Stadium against Tonga on October 23 and France on November 1.

Twal represented Lebanon at RLWC17 in Australia and predicted the Cedars fans would rival those of Tonga and Samoa, who have packed out CommBank Stadium for Pacific Cup matches and last year drew a record 45,000 crowd when they met at Suncorp Stadium.

Tonga and Samoa meet at CommBank Stadium on November 1 in the final match of a triple-header featuring the Lebanon-France clash and the Jillaroos game against Wales.

“Our fan base will definitely get behind us and support the team,”Twal said. “We have got massive support.

"Until this day, I have never been involved in something so amazing as 2017. Our fans were unbelievable so we know they will really get behind us.

“I don’t think people realise how much of the NRL fan base are Lebanese, especially in western Sydney. When the Cedars play, especially here in Sydney, they are definitely going to get amongst it.

“I know some of them have already got tickets and I’m sure our fans will want to make sure they can support us in those matches.”

Staged in nine cities in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, Rugby League World Cup 2026 will feature 53 matches across the three tournaments in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Port Moresby, Christchurch, Newcastle, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Townsville.

Photo: Lebanon Cedars forward Alex Twal joined Jillaroos stars Keilee Joseph and Jessica Sergis at Sydney Harbour to celebrate 50 Days To Go. @NRL Photos

Regarded as one of the best sporting teams in the world, the Jillaroos will headline their opening two matches against Samoa at CommBank Stadium on October 16 and England at Perth’s HBF Stadium on October 24 – a double-header with the England-France men’s game.

“We are so excited to have the World Cup in our own backyard, with our family and friends being able to come and support us, but we know it is going to be a tough campaign,” Sergis said.

“Each team is so strong and there are going to be NRLW players in most of the teams, which will bring so much more exposure and support for our game.

“We have been quite strong the last few years but we have lost some players to New Zealand and Samoa, and that really builds up their teams so we are going to have to play at our best in each game.”

Joseph, who was also a member of the Jillaroos team that won the last World Cup in England in 2022, said RLWC26 would be a step up from Pacific Championships.

“I’m really looking forward to playing some new teams, we have got England and Wales too, so I am expecting some tough games,” Jospeh said.

“Samoa is always strong and they have got some good players. I love the competition and I am really excited to go up against some of my team-mates from the NRLW.”

The Wheelchair tournament will kick off on October 30 at WIN Entertainment Centre and will be staged in Wollongong in its entirety.

Tickets for RLWC26 are selling well and fans are encouraged to take advantage of the accessible ticket pricing as most matches are expected to sell out.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

MEN

Photo: Alex Twal's Lebanon had strong support at the last World Cup in Australia in 2017. @NRL Photos

The 10-team Men’s tournament will include one pool of four and two pools of three nations.

Group A: Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands  

Group B: England, Samoa, Lebanon  

Group C: Tonga, Papua New Guinea, France  

Group A teams will each play three matches against the other teams in Group A. Group B and C teams will each play three matches against the teams in the adjacent group (ie Group B teams will play Group C teams only). 

The Men’s tournament will kick off at Allianz Stadium on Thursday, October 15, with the heavyweight clash between the top two world-ranked teams, the Kangaroos and the Kiwis. The opening weekend will also feature a clash between England and Tonga at Perth’s HBF Park, on Saturday, October 17. 

The Group stage culminates with a match between Pacific giants Tonga and Samoa, at CommBank Stadium, on Sunday, November 1, that is likely to decide which nation progresses to the play-off stages of the tournament and which nation is eliminated.

The top two teams from Group A will progress to the Semi-Finals, while the top two teams from a combined table of Group B and Pool C will progress to the Semi-Finals. 

Men’s matches will be played across Sydney, Port Moresby, Perth, Newcastle, Christchurch, Brisbane, Wollongong, Gold Coast and Townsville. 

WOMEN

In the Women’s World Cup, eight nations are set to take to rugby league’s ultimate stage and the all-conquering Jillaroos will not have everything their own way as the growth of the NRLW and eligibility rule changes strengthen other nations.

After dominating Women’s Rugby League until their first defeat by Australia in the 2013 World Cup final, the Kiwi Ferns are again building and will be bolstered by big name stars switching from the Jillaroos and the addition of cross-code athletes.

Group A: Australia, England, Samoa, Wales 

Group B: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, France, Fiji 

The Women’s tournament will kick off on Friday, October 16 with a clash between the Jillaroos and Samoa that will headline a double-header at CommBank Stadium with the Samoa v France Men’s match. 

Each team will play three matches against the other teams in their Group. The top two teams from each Group will progress to the Semi-Finals. 

Photo: Jillaroos stars Jessica Sergis and Keilee Joseph are excited by the opportunity to play a World Cup on home soil. @NRL Photos

WHEELCHAIR

Just as the 2017 World Cup took Women’s rugby league to new heights, the Wheelchair World Cup is set to expose new fans to a form of the code that underlines why rugby league is known as the greatest game for all.

England will be aiming for back-to-back Wheelchair World Cups, while France will be out to avenge their defeat in the RLWC2021 final and Australia’s Wheelaroos will be aiming to win on home soil.

The eight-team Wheelchair tournament will be played in its entirety at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre.

Group A: England, Ireland, Wales, USA  

Group B: France, Australia, Scotland, New Zealand  

England’s opening match against Wales on October 30 will coincide with the England Men’s and Women’s teams playing afterwards in a double-header at the adjacent WIN Stadium, with Papua New Guinea and Fetu Samoa their respective opponents. 

Rugby League World Cup 2026 returns to Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged. 3 World Cups. 26 Teams. The World’s Best. Tickets are now on sale from $19. Don’t miss the pinnacle of global Rugby League.

All matches will be broadcast live and exclusive in Australia on Seven and 7Plus, Sky Sport in New Zealand and Digicel in Papua New Guinea