Some of English football’s most storied stadiums will play host to the world’s best rugby league players when the 16th World Cup kicks off on October 23 next year.

In addition to Premier League champions Liverpool’s Anfield home, Manchester United’s Old Trafford, Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, St James’ Park in Newcastle and Leeds United’s Elland Road are among the 18 grounds that will be used.

Tuesday’s official draw saw world champions Australia kick-off their defence against 2017 semi-final opponents Fiji at Hull’s KCOM Stadium before facing Group B opponents Scotland and Italy in Coventry and Italy at St Helens.

Hosts England will face Samoa in the tournament opener at St James’ Park before meeting France in Bolton and Greece in Sheffield to round out their Group A matches.

New Zealand are drawn alongside Jamaica, Ireland and Lebanon in Group C with Tonga, PNG, the Cook Islands and Wales.

For the first time in the competition’s history the women’s tournament and the wheelchair event will run concurrently.

The women’s tournament begins on November 9 at Leeds’ Emerald Headingley Stadium and a double-header at London’s Copper Box opens the wheelchair event on November 11 when England face Australia after Spain meet Norway.

Women’s world champions Australia, begin their campaign against Cook Islands in York LNER Community Stadium, where they will also face New Zealand.

The Emirates Stadium, will host a sport other than football for the first time when it stages a men’s semi-final on November 20 with Elland Road hosting the first.

Old Trafford will be the venue for both the men and women’s final on November 27.

The wheelchair champions will be crowned on November 26 at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool.