Background

Previously the only regular international competitions in North America were the Colonial Cup between the USA and Canada and the Caribbean Carnival Cup between Jamaica and Canada (2011–14). As part of the RLIFs policy of expansion and the introduction of a regular international calendar the America's Cup was established which gave the nations opportunity for regular competitive games.

2015–present

The tournament began in 2016 following the previous years successful North America qualification tournament for the 2017 World Cup. The tournament was held every year until 2018 when it switched to every two years however the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The tournament restared in 2023, and in years ahead of the world cup, the tournament has seen the winners of the previous year's South American Rugby League Championship compete in it as the tournament acts as North and South America's qualification to the World Cup. 2023 saw a women's event added for the first time, men's event did not occur for unknown reasons.

Men's

Year	WC Qual.	1st	2nd	3rd	4th
2015^	2017	United States	Jamaica	Canada	N/A
2016	N/A	United States	Canada	Jamaica
2017	United States	Jamaica	Canada
2018	2021	Jamaica	United States	Canada	Chile
2020	N/A	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2023	2025	Brazil,  Canada,  Jamaica,  United States

^Officially the 2017 Rugby League World Cup North American qualification tournament.

Women's

Year	1st	2nd	3rd
2023	Canada	United States	Jamaica