The fixture list for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup has been released ©Getty Images

The fixture schedule for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup has been announced with hosts England's men featuring on the opening day against Samoa.

Next year's event will be the first time that the Men's World Cup will be held alongside the women's version and the wheelchair tournament. 

England's opening day men's clash will take place on October 23 at Newcastle's St. James' Park.

The Women's World Cup will begin on November 9 at Leeds' Emerald Headingley Stadium as England host Brazil, while a double-header at the Copper Box Arena in London will start the wheelchair tournament on November 11.

This will see Spain face Norway and England take on Australia in the opening matches.

Premier League side Manchester United will open its stadium, Old Trafford, for the men's and women's World Cup finals on November 27.

The wheelchair final will be played at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool the day before.

Rivals Arsenal will host their first sporting event outside of football at the Emirates Stadium, when it stages the second men's semi-final on November 20.

On the opening day of the men's tournament, defending champions Australia and Fiji will also face off in a rematch of the 2017 semi-final at the KCOM Stadium in Hull.

Liverpool Football Club's Anfield stadium will host England's women against Canada, which will run alongside one of the men's quarter-final matches on November 13.

Defending women's champions Australia will begin their campaign against the Cook Islands at York's LNER Community Stadium on November 10, which will also later host a tie with rivals New Zealand.

World Cup chief executive Jon Dutton said: "This is a huge moment for the tournament and for fans across the world as we reveal the full fixture schedule.

"The tournament has been gaining momentum over recent months and fans can really look forward to being part of this unique, global event.

"With match dates and locations confirmed, the excitement will only intensify.

"RLWC2021 will bring together the very best that the sport has to offer, and you can see from the schedule there are world class, compelling matches, across all three tournaments."

England are ranked number one in all three tournaments as hosts.

Australia will be the second seeds in the men's and women's events, with defending champions France ranked second for the wheelchair tournament.