The path to qualify for the 2025 Rugby League World Cup in France has been set out for the men's, women's and wheelchair tournaments.
The International Rugby League confirmed all eight quarter-finalists from the 2021 men's tournament, plus France as host nation, will qualify automatically for the next edition of the World Cup, while all eight competing nations from the 2021 women's tournament will qualify for France 2025 as well.
The remaining seven spots in the men's tournament will be decided through a qualifying process involving 19 nations, split across regional tournaments.
For the first time the women's tournament will also have a qualifying process, with up to 19 nations set to vie for the eight remaining spots, while an expression of interest and invitation process will be used to determine the Wheelchair finalists at France 2025.
Earlier this month the 2021 edition of the tournament was staged in England after being delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with Australia winning the men's and women's competitions and England emerging victorious in the wheelchair tournament.
The 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup Champions
International Rugby League chair Troy Grant said after the disruptions caused by the pandemic, opportunities for international rugby league have never been greater.
“We now look forward to France 2025 and during the next three years there will be enormous opportunities to continue the growth of international rugby league, with qualifying tournaments in each region of the globe," Grant said.
“For the first time there will be a women’s qualifying process, with teams from the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Middle East Africa playing off in regional tournaments for berths at France 2025.
“The Men’s World Cup also has a meaningful and clearly defined qualifying path, with 20 nations involved in regional tournaments to determine the seven remaining berths for France 2025."
Match Highlights: Australia v Samoa
2025 Men's Rugby League World Cup
Already qualified
Australia, England, Fiji, Lebanon, New Zealand, PNG, Samoa, Tonga, France.
European qualification
In Europe, 12 teams will vie for the four remaining European slots with England and France already securing qualification for the 2025 tournament. Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Serbia, Spain, Wales, plus already qualified England and France, will contest the 2023 European Championship A, while Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Netherlands, Norway and Ukraine will play in Championship B.
The Czech Republic was invited to replace Russia, which has been suspended indefinitely from all international competition.
From those, the teams to contest the 2024 European qualifying tournament will be decided, with the top four sides from that going to the World Cup.
Americas qualification
The two highest placed teams from the 2023 Americas Championship will qualify directly for the 2025 World Cup. Brazil, Canada, Jamaica and the United States will contest that competition in 2023.
Middle East & Africa qualification
The highest nation at the 2023 MEA Cup, containing South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, will enter an inter-regional repechage against Cook Islands – the winner of which will then qualify for the 2025 World Cup.
Match Highlights: Australia v New Zealand
2025 Women's Rugby League World Cup
Already qualified
Australia, Brazil, Canada, Cook Islands, England, France, New Zealand and PNG have all secured automatic qualification, subject to satisfying IRL development guidelines aimed at growing the women’s game in their country.
Asia Pacific qualification
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will play each other in the 2024 Asia Pacific Qualifying Tournament, with the two highest placed teams qualifying for the World Cup.
European qualification
Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Serbia, Turkey and Wales will play in one group of three and one of four in 2023, with the two highest placed finishers from each group qualifying for the World Cup in 2025.
Americas qualification
Chile, Jamaica and USA will play each other in 2024 in the Americas Qualifying Tournament, with the winner claiming the third and final World Cup spot allocated to their region after Brazil and Canada both secured automatic qualification.
Middle East & Africa qualification
Cameroon, Ghana, Lebanon, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa will play in two groups of three, followed by a final round where Group A teams will play the corresponding finisher from Group B. The eventual winner of this competition will qualify for the 2025 World Cup in France.
Match Highlights: France v England
2025 Wheelchair World Cup
An expression of interest and invitation process will be used to determine the Wheelchair finalists at France 2025.
There were eight teams – Spain, Ireland, England, Australia, France, Wales, Scotland and USA – which competed at the recent 2021 tournament, with France and England contesting their third consecutive final.
