T20 World Cup 2026 Teams: The T20 World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most exciting editions of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka during February–March 2026, this edition will feature 20 teams, continuing the format introduced in the previous tournament. Fans across the globe are gearing up to witness thrilling matches, fierce rivalries, and historic debuts.
Important Notes – T20 World Cup 2026 Teams
- Total Teams: 20 national teams will compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
- Host Nations: The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
- Event Dates: Scheduled for February–March 2026.
- Debut Team: Italy will make its first-ever World Cup appearance, marking a historic moment for European cricket.
- Returning Teams: Nepal, Oman, and UAE return after their strong performances in the Asia/EAP qualifiers.
- Qualification Process:
- 2 Hosts (India, Sri Lanka)
- 7 teams qualified through T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 finish
- 3 teams from ICC T20I Rankings
- 8 teams from Regional Qualifiers (Africa, Americas, Asia/EAP, Europe)
- Format:
- 4 Groups of 5 teams each → Super 8s → Semi-Finals → Final
- Defending Champion: India enters the tournament as the reigning T20 World Cup champion (2024).
- Key Highlights:
- 39 matches across multiple venues in India and Sri Lanka.
- The tournament continues to emphasize global expansion, featuring teams from five continents
Full List of Qualified Teams
| No. | Team |
|---|---|
| 1 | India |
| 2 | Sri Lanka |
| 3 | Afghanistan |
| 4 | Australia |
| 5 | Bangladesh |
| 6 | England |
| 7 | South Africa |
| 8 | USA |
| 9 | West Indies |
| 10 | Ireland |
| 11 | New Zealand |
| 12 | Pakistan |
| 13 | Canada |
| 14 | Italy |
| 15 | Netherlands |
| 16 | Namibia |
| 17 | Zimbabwe |
| 18 | Nepal |
| 19 | Oman |
| 20 | UAE |
First-Time Participants
The 2026 T20 World Cup will see Italy making their historic debut, marking the first time the nation has qualified for any ICC Men’s World Cup tournament. This addition highlights the growing popularity of T20 cricket globally.
Other emerging teams, such as Nepal, Oman, and UAE, will also aim to make a mark after securing their spots through regional qualifiers.
Tournament Format
The T20 World Cup 2026 will follow a 20-team format similar to the previous edition:
- Group Stage: 4 groups of 5 teams each.
- Super 8s: Top 2 teams from each group advance.
- Knockouts: Semi-finals followed by the final.
This format ensures intense competition from the very first match, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Key Points for Fans
- Defending Champions: India, who defeated South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final.
- Exciting Matchups: Classic rivalries such as India vs Pakistan and England vs Australia.
- Global Representation: 20 teams from all continents, showcasing the sport’s worldwide growth.
- Olympic T20 Debut: T20 cricket will make its Olympic debut at LA28, further increasing interest in the format.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule (Super 8 Stage)
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10 | India vs Sri Lanka | Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 10 | Pakistan vs New Zealand | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 11 | England vs Afghanistan | Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 11 | Australia vs USA | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 12 | Sri Lanka vs TBC | Kandy | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 12 | Bangladesh vs TBC | Mohali | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 13 | West Indies vs TBC | Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 13 | South Africa vs TBC | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 14 | India vs TBC | Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 14 | Pakistan vs TBC | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 15 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | Delhi | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 15 | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Mohali | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 16 | England vs TBC | Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 16 | Australia vs TBC | Mumbai | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 17 | India vs TBC | Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 17 | Pakistan vs Bangladesh | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 18 | Sri Lanka vs TBC | Chennai | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 18 | West Indies vs TBC | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 19 | New Zealand vs TBC | Hyderabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 19 | South Africa vs TBC | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 20 | England vs West Indies | Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 20 | Australia vs Afghanistan | Kandy | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 21 | India vs Sri Lanka | Delhi | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 21 | Pakistan vs Ireland | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 22 | Bangladesh vs TBC | Hyderabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 22 | New Zealand vs TBC | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 23 | Afghanistan vs TBC | Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 23 | England vs South Africa | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 24 | India vs TBC | Ahmedabad | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 24 | Pakistan vs Sri Lanka | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 25 | West Indies vs TBC | Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 25 | Australia vs England | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 26 | Afghanistan vs TBC | Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 26 | South Africa vs TBC | Jaipur | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 27 | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Mohali | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 27 | India vs Pakistan | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 28 | Sri Lanka vs TBC | Delhi | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 28 | England vs TBC | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Feb 29 | Afghanistan vs West Indies | Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| Feb 29 | Australia vs South Africa | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
Knockout Stage – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 01 | Group A Winner vs Group B Runner-up | Hyderabad | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 01 | Group B Winner vs Group A Runner-up | Kolkata | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 02 | Group C Winner vs Group D Runner-up | Mumbai | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 02 | Group D Winner vs Group C Runner-up | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 03 | Group A Winner vs Group A Runner-up | Mohali | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 03 | Group B Winner vs Group B Runner-up | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 04 | Group C Winner vs Group C Runner-up | Jaipur | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 04 | Group D Winner vs Group D Runner-up | Delhi | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 05 | Group A Winner vs Group B Winner | Kolkata | 3:00 PM |
| Mar 05 | Group C Winner vs Group D Winner | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 06 | Group A Runner-up vs Group B Runner-up | Chennai | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 06 | Group C Runner-up vs Group D Runner-up | Hyderabad | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 09 | Semi-Final 1: Group 1 Winner vs Group 2 Runner-up | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 10 | Semi-Final 2: Group 2 Winner vs Group 1 Runner-up | Colombo | 7:30 PM |
| Mar 12 | Final: Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Ahmedabad | 7:30 PM |
FAQs
Q1. How many teams will play in the T20 World Cup 2026?
A1. The 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will feature 20 teams, the same as the 2024 edition.
Q2. Which countries will host the T20 World Cup 2026?
A2. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Q3. Which new teams have qualified for the T20 World Cup 2026?
A3. Italy will make its historic debut, while Nepal, Oman, and UAE return after strong regional qualifier performances.
Q4. How were the teams selected for T20 World Cup 2026?
A4. Qualification was based on four criteria — host nations, top seven finishers from the 2024 World Cup, top ICC T20I ranked teams, and regional qualifiers from Africa, Americas, Asia/EAP, and Europe.
Q5. Who are the automatic qualifiers for T20 World Cup 2026?
A5. India and Sri Lanka qualify as hosts, while Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies qualified automatically for finishing in the top seven of the 2024 edition.
Q6. When will the T20 World Cup 2026 be played?
A6. The tournament is scheduled between February and March 2026.
Q7. What is the format of the T20 World Cup 2026?
A7. The 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8s, followed by semi-finals and the final.
Q8. Who are the defending champions?
A8. India are the defending champions, having won the 2024 T20 World Cup by defeating South Africa in the final.
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