International rugby league chiefs sprang a surprise when they gave the go-ahead to expand the World Cup to 14 teams in 2013.
Ten teams contested the last World Cup in Australia in 2008 which was pronounced an unqualified success, in sharp contrast to the 2000 tournament in the United Kingdom which comprised 16 teams, produced a host of mis-matches and made a big financial loss.
Twelve teams will enter automatically for the next World Cup, which will be staged in the UK, and two more will come from qualifying tournaments in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Initial proposals by the Rugby Football League for a 14-team tournament were met with opposition, but delegates at the Rugby League International Federation meeting in Singapore were impressed by their business plan.
RLIF chairman Colin Love said: "We are delighted to have ratified this proposal for a 14-nation Rugby League World Cup which was unanimously supported by RLIF delegates.
"This year will see the Four Nations in Australia and New Zealand build on the success of the 2008 Rugby World Cup and 2009 Four Nations and going forward I am confident that in 2013 we will see a tournament that will successfully showcase international rugby league to a worldwide audience.
"The format reflects rugby league's increased participation around the world and provides a wonderful opportunity for the finest athletes in any sport to prove themselves on the greatest stage of all."
Details of the qualifying system will be revealed later this year but Wales, twice semi-finalists in the past, looks certain to join the 10 teams who took part in 2008 and Lebanon will be hoping to secure the other automatic spot.
Organisers are likely to once more seed the major nations in order to avoid the lop-sided scorelines that featured in 2000.
In 2008, England, Australia and New Zealand were all placed in one 'super' pool, alongside Papua New Guinea, with the rest of the nations left to fight it out for one semi-final place.