England need a specific set of results next weekend to reach the semi-finals of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. Humbled 30-12 by Tonga in their opening match, Brian Mc Dermott's side responded with an 82-0 win over France. Now they must beat co-hosts Papua New Guinea in Wollongong next Friday and hope Tonga beat Samoa two days later in Sydney.
Samoa hold the advantage. They beat Tonga 34-6 in their last meeting, so if Samoa win, England are eliminated on head-to-head record. If Tonga win, the outcome depends on points difference. England sit on +64, while Samoa are on +132 after heavy wins over France and PNG. England therefore need to beat PNG by 68 points or more to progress regardless of the Tonga result. Anything less means hoping Tonga are inspired enough to beat their Pacific rivals.
England have never finished outside the top four in 16 previous World Cups, and they have reached the semi-finals every time the format included them. Mc Dermott said the France win was measured and planned, adding that the side must finish strong whatever happens. Captain George Williams said the team had given themselves half a chance.
The controversial format has not helped. Pools B and C are combined into a six-team league where only two teams advance, and England do not play Samoa directly. The format was introduced after France pulled out of hosting a 16-team tournament over money troubles, cutting the field to 10 teams. Critics note that Australia and New Zealand sit together in Group A, adding to concerns about fairness.
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing