Dubai: The wait for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule is nearly over, with insiders confirming that the official match itinerary will be released on November 25 during a ceremony in Mumbai. According to sources, the event will be attended by ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with several former and current international cricketers.
The 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. The final is likely to take place either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on Pakistan’s qualification scenario — a contingency shaped by the ongoing lack of bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan.
Tournament Format to Mirror 2024 Edition
The 2026 World Cup will follow the same successful format used in the 2024 T20 World Cup held in the USA and West Indies.
20 teams will be divided into four groups of five.
The top two teams from each group will move to the Super Eight stage, split into two groups of four.
The top two sides from each Super Eight group will qualify for the semi-finals.
India will enter the tournament as defending champions, having beaten South Africa in the 2024 final in Barbados. The previous edition featured 55 matches, and a similar count is expected this time.
All 20 Teams Already Confirmed
With UAE securing the last qualification spot last month, all 20 teams for the 2026 tournament are now finalised. Italy will make their T20 World Cup debut, while traditional powerhouses like Australia, England, West Indies, and South Africa also feature prominently.
Qualified Teams for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Hosts:
India
Sri Lanka
Qualified via 2024 Super Eight:
Afghanistan
Australia
Bangladesh
England
South Africa
United States
West Indies
Qualified via ICC T20I Rankings:
Pakistan
New Zealand
Ireland
Regional Qualifiers:
Americas: Canada
Europe: Netherlands, Italy
Africa: Namibia, Zimbabwe
Asia–EAP: Nepal, Oman, UAE
The unveiling of the schedule next week will provide a complete picture of venues, match timings, and marquee clashes — including the highly anticipated India–Pakistan fixture, should group placements permit.
