Everything is on the line in the final weekend of the group phase of the IRL Rugby League World Cup as 11 teams battle for semi-final berths across the men's and women's tournaments. 

Australia are the only team to have booked their spot in the final four heading into the final week of the group stage of the men's competition. 

In Group A, New Zealand and Fiji will play off for a spot in the semi-finals in a Cbus Super showdown on the Gold Coast.

The permutations for Groub B and C are more complicated with four teams fighting for a top-two finish on the combined table. 

With head-to-head result the primary tiebreaker before for and against comes into the equation, everything is on the line from the first match of the weekend to the last. 

It's win or go home on Friday night at WIN Stadium when England face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong. 

All eyes will then turn to Sunday night's showdown between fierce Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa at a sold-out CommBank Stadium. 

The stakes are just as high in the Women's World Cup, with just one spot in the final four locked up leading into this weekend. 

New Zealand and Fiji are chasing wins to secure a top-two finish in Pool B, while England and Samoa will play off for a semi-final berth at WIN Stadium on Friday night. 

This is every team's path to the World Cup semi-finals. 

Men's World Cup

Pool A

Australia

The Kangaroos are the only team to have already booked their spot in the semi-finals and can secure first place in their group with a victory over Cook Islands in Townsville on Saturday night. Kevin Walters' men will play their semi-final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday November 8 as part of a doubleheader with the Jillaroos. 

This week: Australia v Cook Islands, Saturday October 31 8.05pm (AEDT) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville. 

New Zealand

The equation for the Kiwis is simple after last week's convincing win over Cook Islands. Beat Fiji and you're in the semi-finals. Lose and it's game over for the 2026 World Cup. With a heavy New Zealand presence in South-East Queensland, the Kiwis are hoping their fans pack into Cbus Super Stadium for Saturday's must-win showdown.

This week: New Zealand v Fiji, Saturday October 31 3.30pm (AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium

Fiji

Belief is high in the Bati camp after they came agonisingly close to toppling the Kangaroos last weekend. Fiji opened their tournament with a comfortable win over the Cook Islands and they fancy their chances in Saturday's must-win battle against the Kiwis. The Bati stunned New Zealand in the 2017 quarter-final and will draw on that result this weekend. 

This week: New Zealand v Fiji, Saturday October 31 3.30pm (AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium

Pools B & C

Samoa

Two dominant wins have put Samoa in pole position for a trip to the semi-finals but there is still plenty of work to do for Ben Gardiner's side. A win over Tonga will secure first place on the combined table and a date with either New Zealand or Fiji at McDonald Jones Stadium next weekend.

Things start to get a little bit more complicated if Samoa lose on Sunday night. A Papua New Guinea win over England on Friday will guarantee Samoa's spot in the semi-finals. An England win, however, will see for and against determine which nation progresses to the final four. Samoa currently have a 68-point advantage but England showed they can pile on the points in last week's convincing victory over France. 

This week: Tonga v Samoa, Sunday November 1 8.05pm at CommBank Stadium

Tonga

Like Samoa, Tonga can guarantee a spot in the semi-finals with a win on Sunday night. Should they lose to Samoa, their week one victory over England also means Kristian Woolf's side will progress to the final four if England defeats PNG on Friday night.

A Kumuls win, however, will see for and against come into play. Tonga currently hold an 88-point advantage over PNG but Samoa have shown they can pile on the points so Woolf's men cannot afford to switch off on Sunday night. 

This week: Tonga v Samoa, Sunday November 1 8.05pm at CommBank Stadium

England

The first half of the equation for England is relatively simple. Defeat Papua New Guinea and keep your semi-final hopes alive. From there, Brian McDermott's men need Tonga to beat Samoa by a big margin.

England must overturn a 68-point differential to leapfrog the Samoans on the combined table and climb into the top two. A Samoa victory will spell the end of England's World Cup hopes.

This week: England v Papua New Guinea, Friday October 30 8.05pm at WIN Stadium

Papua New Guinea

Like England, Friday night's clash at WIN Stadium is a must-win for the Kumuls. Should they defeat the English, PNG will then rely on Samoa to defeat Tonga by a big margin to keep their semi-finals hopes alive. 

The Kumuls are currently 88 points behind Tonga on for and against and will need a big swing to progress to the knockout rounds. A Tonga victory will eliminate PNG from the tournament. 

This week: England v Papua New Guinea, Friday October 30 8.05pm at WIN Stadium

Women's World Cup

Pool A

Jillaroos

Australia are safely through to the semi-finals after big wins over Samoa and England to open their campaign. The Jillaroos can secure first place in Pool A with a victory over Wales at CommBank Stadium on Sunday afternoon. The focus will then turn to a semi-final at Allianz Stadium on November 8, which will be played as a doubleheader with the Kangaroos' semi-final. 

This week: Jillaroos v Wales, Sunday November 1 3.40pm at CommBank Stadium

Fetu Samoa

Samoa's top-four hopes hinge on a Friday night showdown with England at WIN Stadium. Last week's convincing win over Wales set up a playoff for a spot in the semi-finals, with the winner of Friday's match to stay alive in the tournament. Playing their first Women's World Cup since 2008, Samoa are desperate to qualify for the semi-finals for the first time.

This week: England v Samoa, Friday October 30 5.45pm at WIN Stadium

England

England must bounce back immediately from last week's heavy loss to Australia in order to keep their tournament alive. Friday's clash against Samoa is a must-win, with the winner to progress to the semi-finals. The two nations have never played each other in an international match so there will be plenty of intrigue in Wollongong on Friday night. 

This week: England v Samoa, Friday October 30 5.45pm at WIN Stadium

Pool B

Kiwi Ferns

New Zealand have one foot in the semi-finals but their spot is not yet assured heading into this weekend. A win over Papua New Guinea will secure the Kiwi Ferns first place in their pool. A shock loss and a Fiji win over France will leave New Zealand relying on for and against. Given they currently sit on a +98 points differential, it's unlikely the Kiwi Ferns will drop out of the top two but they will want to keep control of their own destiny.

This week: Kiwi Ferns v Papua New Guinea, Saturday October 31 5.45pm (AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium

Fiji

The Bulikula largely control their own semi-finals destiny as they chase a spot in the final four in their first Women's World Cup. A win over France will likely be enough to secure Fiji a top-two finish in their group, while a loss will see them rely on New Zealand defeating Papua New Guinea before for and against comes into the equation. In the event both Fiji and PNG prevail on Saturday, points differential will determine which side progress to the knockout round. At +30, the Bulikula hold a 12-point advantage over the Orchids heading into this weekend's matches. 

This week: Fiji v France, Saturday October 31 1.20pm (AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium. 

Papua New Guinea

The Orchids must defy history to keep their hopes of a semi-final berth alive when they face New Zealand on Saturday afternoon. Papua New Guinea have never beaten the Kiwi Ferns in two prior matches and will need to bounce back instantly from last week's loss to Fiji. An Orchids win and Fiji loss will send PNG into the final four, while for and against will come into play if both the Orchids and Bulikula prevail on Saturday. 

This week: Kiwi Ferns v Papua New Guinea, Saturday October 31 5.45pm (AEDT) at Cbus Super Stadium