England and France will go head-to-head in what promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the 2026 IRL Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup, with the two European heavyweights battling it out for the sport's biggest prize in Wollongong, Australia.

Defending champions England will be looking to retain their world crown, while France have the opportunity to avenge their defeat in the 2022 final and reclaim the title.

Both sides have enjoyed impressive campaigns and arrive at the showpiece in outstanding form, setting up a mouth-watering contest between two teams boasting enormous attacking quality.

England booked their place in the final with a commanding 86-18 victory over tournament hosts Australia in the semi-finals. Having already won all three of their group matches, the reigning champions produced another dominant display to underline their credentials.

Rob Hawkins was among the standout performers, crossing for five tries, while Mason Billington completed a hat-trick. Joe Coyd also contributed two tries as England established a commanding 40-6 advantage at half-time.

It was a performance that demonstrated the depth and attacking firepower within the England squad, although they will know that France present a different challenge.

France have been equally impressive throughout the competition, finishing top of Pool B with three victories from three matches before producing an emphatic 82-26 semi-final success against Ireland.

Dany Denuwelaere was sensational, scoring six tries, while Damien Doré added five of his own in a devastating attacking performance.

Their ability to create opportunities and punish defensive weaknesses makes France a significant threat, and England will need to be at their very best to keep their opponents under control.

There will also be plenty of motivation for the French side, having lost 28-24 to England in the 2022 World Cup final in Manchester. This is an opportunity to settle old scores and finally get their hands on the trophy.

Several players could have a major influence on the outcome, with England's Rob Hawkins and Mason Billington likely to be central to their attacking ambitions.

For France, the threat of Denuwelaere and Doré will be a major concern for the defending champions, with both players demonstrating their finishing ability throughout the tournament.

The battle between the two sides' playmakers could also prove decisive. England will look to utilise their attacking structure and experience, while France will aim to disrupt their rhythm and create opportunities of their own.

Defensive discipline may ultimately determine who comes out on top. Both teams have shown they can score heavily, but limiting missed tackles, protecting space and managing possession will be crucial in a final where small mistakes could prove costly.

England have the experience of winning on the biggest stage and will take enormous confidence from their semi-final performance. France, however, have demonstrated throughout the competition that they possess the quality to challenge the very best.

A high-scoring and entertaining encounter is expected, with both nations having realistic hopes of lifting the trophy.

France are likely to push the defending champions all the way, but England's experience, attacking depth and ability to deliver in major matches could prove decisive.

France (squad): Gilles CLAUSELLS, Damien DORE, Florian GUTTADORO, Jeremy BOURSON, Adrien ZITTEL, Jonathan HIVERNAT, Dany DENUWAELERE, Jorge GELADE PANZO, LEO HIVERNAT, Nicolas CLAUSELLS