The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is officially set to take place from February 7 to March 8, 2026, with India and Sri Lanka joining hands as co-hosts. Twenty countries will compete across 55 matches in the 10th edition of the men’s T20 World Cup, which is expected to be one of the most competitive international tournaments in cricket history.
On October 16, 2025, the UAE secured the last qualifying spot, and all 20 participating countries have now been confirmed. Let’s examine every team , along with their qualifying journeys for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup.
Tournament Overview
- Dates: February 7 to March 8, 2026
- Hosts: India and Sri Lanka
- Teams: 20
- Matches: 55
- Final Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad) or R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo)
Summary by Qualification Zone
| Zone | Teams Qualified | Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka | 2 teams |
| 2024 T20 WC Top 7 | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies | 7 teams |
| T20I Rankings | Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan | 3 teams |
| Americas | Canada | 1 team |
| Europe | Italy, Netherlands | 2 teams |
| Africa | Namibia, Zimbabwe | 2 teams |
| Asia/EAP | Nepal, Oman, UAE | 3 teams |
| Total | 20 teams |
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Venues
- Expected Indian venues:
Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), Arun Jaitley Stadium (Delhi), and possibly HPCA Stadium (Dharamsala). - Expected Sri Lankan venues:
R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy), and possibly Galle International Stadium. - All matches involving Pakistan, including a potential India vs Pakistan clash, are expected to be held at neutral venues in Sri Lanka.
READ: ICC Player of the Month September 2025: Abhishek & Smriti Shine for India
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams
Hosts (2 Teams)
India and Sri Lanka automatically qualified as hosts.
India, having won their second T20 World Cup in 2024 after defeating South Africa in an exciting final, are the tournament’s defending champions. Sri Lanka, who last hosted the event in 2012, will once again look to shine at home after their memorable 2014 title win.
Top 7 from T20 World Cup 2024
Teams: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies.
These nations secured automatic qualification by finishing among the top seven sides in the 2024 edition.
Afghanistan made history by reaching their first semi-final, USA impressed in their debut campaign, and South Africa finished runners-up for the first time.
ICC T20I Rankings Qualification
Teams: Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan.
Ireland claimed their position as the top-ranked associate nation, while New Zealand and Pakistan qualified via the ICC T20I rankings despite their early 2024 exits.
Regional Qualifiers
Canada (Americas), Italy and the Netherlands (Europe), Namibia and Zimbabwe (Africa), and Nepal, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates (Asia/EAP) were selected from regional paths.
Italy qualified for the ICC World Cup for the first time in any format, which is historic.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Format
The 2026 tournament will follow the same structure as 2024.
Group Stage: 20 teams divided into four groups of five. Each side plays four matches, and the top two from each group move to the Super 8s.
Super 8 Stage: The eight qualified teams are split into two groups of four based on pre-set seedings. The top two teams from each Super 8 group will progress to the semi-finals.
Knockout Stage: Two semi-finals and one grand final decide the new champion.
A total of 55 matches will be played across both host nations, with India hosting the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, unless Pakistan qualifies, in that case the final will shift to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Why the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Stands Out
With 20 qualified teams from all around the world, ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be an occasion to reflect cricket’s global expansion. In terms of the number of participating teams, the 2026 edition is going to be the biggest T20 World Cup ever. Every plot line heightens the suspense, from Italy’s exciting debut to India’s title defense.
The countdown begins, from February 7 to March 8, 2026, the world will once again turn its eyes toward India and Sri Lanka for a festival of T20 cricket.
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