Papua New Guinea will host four Rugby League World Cup fixtures next offseason, confirmed with the official draw announced on Sunday, a touch over 12 months before their nation enters the NRL.
The national football venue, Santos Stadium, plays home to a pair of Kumuls and Orchids pool matches - one of 10 stadiums across nine cities in three countries during the tournament.
The International Rugby League (IRL) confirmed their part in the World Cup mid-way through 2024.
The United States and Canada were initially set to host the tournament this summer before those plans were confirmed, with France named as a short-lived replacement before a Southern Hemisphere shift.
In 2024 IRL said the tournament will include matches in Papua New Guinea, and will showcase the cultures of the Pacific, from where the majority of World Cup men's and women's teams hail.
PNG previously hosted three games during the 2017 World Cup.
Port Moresby will host more action than four of nine hosting cities, including Christchurch, with an equal share to Newcastle and Perth, only beaten by major centres Sydney and Magandjin/Brisbane.
Santos regularly houses capacity crowds to rugby league matches, and left near to no room during the recent Pacific Championships.
The national men's side made a pair of statements en route to claiming a third consecutive Bowl triumph with a 40-28 win over Cook Islands before a dominant 50-18 showing against Fiji Bati.
Australia's Prime Minister's XIII earlier came across for their annual game.
They'll host Toa Samoa, who stunned host country England to qualify for the last World Cup final, following Lebanon next October in the men's fixtures.
Following the Pacific Championships Samoa men's side stormed into the top four of international rankings, behind Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and England.
The Samoan women's team surged up 12 positions in the most recent rankings.
The Orchids have scheduled games against Fiji and France at the national stadium.
International Rugby League has never been more competitive and there will be genuine superstars across all groups and stages in this tournament.
"A World Cup is about more than international glory. The biggest stars on the planet will put everything on the line for their country and fans will experience a level of passion and intensity that very few events can rival both on the field and in the stands," IRL chair Troy Grant said.
"With the popularity of Rugby League soaring to unprecedented heights, the international game is riding a wave of momentum into what will be the biggest global showcase the game has seen across the Men's, Women's and Wheelchair formats next October and November."
PNG are currently ranked sixth in the world in both men's and women's standings.
