North America to host 2025 World Cup

The USA and Canada look set to host the 2025 World Cup, after the RLIF endorsed the recommendation of its own board that the tournament should be staged there.

The RLIF directors had previously recommended that the tournament be held in North America after the two countries were overlooked in favour of England for the 2021 tournament.

The decision was taken at the weekend at the RLIF annual meeting in Liverpool, where Nigel Wood and Australia’s John Grant were re-elected as chairman and deputy chairman, respectively, of the governing body for the next two years.

 “The award of the 2025 World Cup to North America is a historic moment in the global development of rugby league,” said Wood, who is also chief executive of the RFL.

“The USA and Canada provides world class stadiums allied to a significant multi cultural population which made the bid so persuasive.

“It is exciting that our sport is expanding into a new destination for our premier event the World Cup.”

The next step for the RLIF is to determine to the international calendar for 2018 onwards.

The Four Nations could be living on borrowed time, with reports stating that Kangaroos tours, the Great Britain team and more tournaments for tier two countries could be on the way.