Sydney:Five cities across the Pacific and the United States will host the joint men's and women's 2030 Rugby League World Cup, organizers announced Monday, as the sport looks to tap into lucrative new markets.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the tournament currently underway in Australia has attracted record crowds and television ratings, with strong support for nations such as Tonga and Samoa. The International Rugby League (IRL) noted that this success has generated unprecedented interest in the United States, where there are significant Pasifika communities.
IRL Chairman Troy Grant stated in Sydney that the next Rugby League World Cup for men and women in 2030 will be staged in the Pacific-USA. This decision is part of a strategy to maximize the interest of broadcasters, government partners, and fans in the ongoing World Cup, which has regularly broken records for crowds and television viewership.
The 2030 World Cup will see an expansion in the number of participating countries, increasing to 12 for men and to 10 for women from the current eight. The host cities for the event have yet to be decided.