Canberra has been dealt another sporting blow with the national capital set to be excluded from hosting matches in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, continuing a worrying trend of major tournaments bypassing the region.
Budget Constraints Force ACT's Hand
The ACT government has confirmed it will not participate in expensive bidding wars against states with significantly larger budgets, effectively ruling Canberra Stadium out of contention for World Cup fixtures. Government officials maintain there was no formal bidding process for the tournament, though rugby league authorities insist state and territory governments were invited to submit hosting proposals.
This decision marks another disappointment for Canberra's passionate rugby league community, particularly following the Raiders' record-breaking attendance figures this season. The Green Machine's loyal fan base will now need to travel interstate to watch World Cup action.
History of Mixed Success in Canberra
Canberra Stadium has hosted Rugby League World Cup matches on previous occasions, with mixed results in terms of crowd numbers. During the 2017 tournament, Australia's dominant 52-6 victory over France attracted 12,293 spectators, demonstrating strong local interest in premium fixtures.
However, other matches drew considerably smaller crowds, with only 6,733 attending Fiji versus Italy and just 5,492 turning out for the Lebanon-France encounter. The 2008 tournament saw France play Scotland before 9,287 fans at the Bruce precinct venue.
Despite the variable attendance figures, the city has missed out on several major sporting events recently, including women's soccer World Cup and Asian Cup fixtures, while also being excluded from the 2027 Rugby World Cup schedule.
Strategic Approach to Event Hosting
ACT government representatives have defended their position, emphasising a strategic approach to event procurement that focuses on value for money rather than engaging in costly bidding wars.
"We are unlikely to win bidding wars against states with budgets 10 or 20 times larger than ours," an ACT government spokesperson stated. "We are strategic and realistic in our event procurement and seek to host a diverse range of sporting events."
This philosophy has seen success in other areas, with both the Matildas and Socceroos drawing packed crowds to Canberra Stadium in recent years. The government appears focused on attracting marquee teams rather than tournament matches between less popular nations.
Future Opportunities and Fan Disappointment
The decision comes as another setback for Canberra sports fans, who had also hoped to host under-19s State of Origin fixtures. Despite expressing interest and hosting a record women's clash in 2022, Canberra missed out to North Sydney Oval for the 2025 junior Origin matches.
Government officials acknowledged the challenges, stating: "While we expressed interest in hosting a game and sought further details, ultimately, the anticipated expenses outweighed the potential return."
Meanwhile, the 2026 Rugby League World Cup is expected to see Brisbane host the final in mid-November, continuing its tradition after staging deciders in both 2008 and 2017. Sydney is likely to secure a semi-final, leaving Canberra sports enthusiasts once again looking beyond their city borders for world-class international sporting action.
