2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying matches took place from April 2006 to November 2007. Of the ten teams to compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, five of them qualified based on their performance in these matches. The other five teams had qualified automatically.

Qualified teams

6 Asian-Pacific teams qualified for the World Cup; 3 qualified automatically, with the top 2 in the [|Pacific] qualifying group also reaching the finals. Samoa finished third in the Pacific qualifying group and earned a qualification spot by winning the repechage. 4 European teams qualified for the World Cup. 2 qualified automatically, with a further 2 finals berths for the winner of each European qualifying group. No teams from the Atlantic qualifying group reached the finals, with the USA losing at the repechage semi-final stage.

Team	Method of qualification	Date of qualification	Finals appearance	Last appearance	Previous best performance
	Host	N/A	Final	2000	Winners
	Automatic qualifier	N/A	Champions	2000	Runners-up
	Automatic qualifier	N/A	No	2000	Quarter-finals
	Automatic qualifier	N/A	Semi Final	2000	Runners-up
	Automatic qualifier	N/A	No	2000	Runners-up
	[\|Europe Pool A] winners	4 November 2007	No	2000	Group stage
	[\|Europe Pool B] winners	2 November 2007	Quarter Final	2000	Quarter-finals
	[\|Pacific Pool] winners	22 October 2006	No	2000	Group stage
	Pacific runners-up	7 October 2006	Semi Final	2000	Group stage
	[\|Repechage] winners	14 November 2007	No	2000	Quarter-finals (2000

Europe

Second round

Group A

Team									Qualification
	2	1	0	1	37	32	+5	2	Qualified for World Cup
	2	1	0	1	32	37	–5	2	Intercontinental playoff

Group B
Lebanon hosted their home fixtures in England due to the political situation in the Middle East.

Team									Qualification
	4	2	2	0	142	64	78	6	Qualified for World Cup
	4	2	2	0	104	42	62	6	Interncontinental playoff
	4	0	0	4	38	178	−140	0	Failed to qualify for World Cup

Notes:

Ireland's Chris Bridge kicked a penalty goal to level the scores in the 77th minute after Lebanon's captain Hassan Saleh conceded a penalty for a high tackle.
Ireland qualified for the World Cup with a greater points difference than Lebanon, who progressed to the intercontinental repechage.

Speculation of match-fixing

In early 2011, Ryan Tandy and his agent Sam Ayoub were charged in relation to alleged spot-fixing offences during a 2010 National Rugby League match, prompting speculation about the legitimacy of Ireland and Lebanon's two draws. The 2006 drawn match included Tandy representing Ireland and Ayoub's son Jai Ayoub representing Lebanon. Neither Tandy or Ayoub played in the 2007 match. A police investigation in Australia was dismissed due to "jurisdictional issues." Ireland coach Andy Kelly said in 2011 that he believes the games were played "openly and honestly," and that it was a coincidence both games were drawn.

Other

Originally, the USA, Japan, South Africa and West Indies were going to compete in a four-team tournament at Bernie Robbins Stadium, Atlantic City, from 21–28 October.
However, the West Indies and South Africa withdrew before the draw, and a one-off match was played between Japan and the USA.

Repechage

Final

Therefore, Samoa qualified for the final position at the World Cup to be held in Australia in 2008.