Last month, Nepal, Oman, and the UAE sealed their places for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 via the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier to complete the set of 20 teams that will take part in the ICC’s showpiece men’s event next year.
This month, the governing council and the host board have all but decided the cities and venues that will be hosting the tournament.
When is the ICC T20 World Cup 2026? Date, schedule
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be played at eight grounds across India and Sri Lanka. It is scheduled to start on February 7, 2026, with the final slated for March 8. The final will be hosted either at the Narendra Modi Stadium or in Colombo in case Pakistan reaches the final.
The schedule of the tournament is not yet released, but the venues have been shortlisted.
Which cities will host the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
As per ESPNcricinfo, the ICC has finalized five Indian grounds and three venues in Sri Lanka (two grounds in Colombo) for the T20 World Cup 2026. The five Indian cities that will host the T20 World Cup are Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, and Kolkata, and the cities in Sri Lanka are Colombo (two grounds) and Kandy. That makes a total of eight grounds across seven cities in the two nations.
So far, the ICC has not yet confirmed the groups either, but it is expected that India and Pakistan will remain in the same group as the governing council and the host board, BCCI, look to maximize their broadcasting revenue.
As previously agreed between the BCCI and the PCB, Pakistan will not travel to India and will play all their matches in Sri Lanka, including the knockouts and even the final, if they reach it.
Earlier in the year, after the Indian government denied permission to the Indian team to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy, the PCB protested, and this agreement was confirmed by the BCCI. The Pakistan women’s team recently played all their games in Sri Lanka in the ICC Women’s World Cup.
What is the format of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
The ICC T20 World Cup, which includes 20 teams, will follow the same format as the 2024 edition. The 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each. The top two sides from each group will progress to the Super 8 stage, from where they will be put into two groups. The top two teams from those two groups will advance to the semi-finals.
Which 20 teams have qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
India and Sri Lanka earned direct qualifications by virtue of being the hosts. The other top seven teams from the T20 World Cup 2024 that got a direct entry in the T20 World Cup 2026 are England, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, United States of America, Australia, and West Indies. New Zealand, Ireland, and Pakistan qualified for this tournament on the basis of their T20I rankings.
Then, Canada booked their spot through the Americas Qualifier; Italy and Netherlands from the European Qualifiers; Namibia and Zimbabwe through the African Qualifiers; and finally, Nepal, UAE, and Oman from the Asia-EAP Qualifiers.
So the 20 teams that will feature in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 are India, Sri Lanka, England, South Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, USA, Australia, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland, Pakistan, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, UAE, Oman.
India are the defending champions.
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