2026 Men's T20 World Cup qualification

The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualification is an ongoing process by which teams will qualify for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.[1] A series of regional qualification tournaments will determine the teams which will take part in the tournament.[2]

2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup qualification
Dates9 June 2024 – 2025
Administrator(s)
Cricket formatTwenty20 International
Participants87
Matches188 (Sub-regional)
2024
2028

Format

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The top eight teams from the previous edition along with the 2026 hosts and the next best two to four teams (depending on the finishing positions of the hosts in the previous edition) from the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings will get qualified automatically for the tournament.[2] The remaining eight teams will be decided by regional qualifiers. Each regional qualifier will be held in two stages:[3]

  • Sub-regional qualifiers: This stage comprises one or more tournaments depending on the ICC region. Matches are held in either single round-robin or double round-robin format. The stipulated number of teams advance into the next stage.
  • Regional final: Top teams unable to earn automatic qualification along with teams advancing from the sub-regional qualifier take part in this stage. Matches are held in either single round-robin or double round-robin format. The stipulated number of teams advance to the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Summary of the qualification process for 2026 T20WC
ICC Region Slots per region No. of direct
qualified teams
Remaining slots Regional qualifiers
No. of participants Start date End date
Africa 3 1 2 20 21 September 2024 2025
Americas 3 2 1 10 December 2024 2025
Asia
EAP
10 5
2
3 16
9
30 August 2024
17 August 2024
2025
Europe 4 2 2 32 9 June 2024 2025
Total 20 12 8 87

Qualified teams

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Highlighted are the countries that will be participating in the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup.
  Qualified as hosts
  Qualified by finishing in Top 7 in the previous tournament, excluding Hosts
  Qualified via the T20I Rankings
  Teams whose qualification status is yet to be decided
  Participated in the regional qualifiers but failed to qualify

Hosts India and Sri Lanka qualified directly as hosts.[4] As hosts India reached the Super 8 stage of the previous T20 World Cup, only seven teams were required to avail of Super 8 qualification. The extra quota thus went to qualification by world rankings.[5]

Details of the teams qualified for 2026 T20WC
Team Method of
qualification
Date of
qualification
Venue(s) No. of teams Last
time
qualified
Total
times
qualified
Previous best
performance
  India
Co-hosts 16 November 2021
2
2024 10 Winners (2007, 2024)
2024 10 Winners (2014)
2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
(Top 7 teams from the previous tournament,
excluding the hosts)
17 June 2024   United States
  West Indies
7
2024 8 Semi-finals (2024)
2024 10 Winners (2021)
2024 10 Super 8 (2007, 2024)
2024 10 Winners (2010, 2022)
2024 10 Runners-up (2024)
2024 2 Super 8 (2024)
2024 10 Winners (2012, 2016)
ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings 29 June 2024
3
2024 9 Super 8 (2009)
2024 10 Runners-up (2021)
2024 10 Winners (2009)
  TBD
Africa Qualifier 2025 TBA
2
  TBD
  TBD
Americas Qualifier 2025 TBA
1
  TBD
Asia & EAP Qualifier 2025 TBA
3
  TBD
  TBD
  TBD
Europe Qualifier 2025 TBA
2
  TBD
Total 20

Africa Qualifier

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The qualification stages are as follows:

  • Africa Qualifier A: Six teams played round-robin matches from 21 to 26 September 2024 in Tanzania
  • Africa Qualifier B: Six teams played round-robin matches from 19 to 24 October 2024 in Kenya
  • Africa Qualifier C: Six teams to play round-robin matches from 23 to 28 November 2024 in Nigeria
  • Africa Regional Final: To be decided

Africa sub-regional qualifiers

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In the sub-regional phase, Qualifier A was held in Tanzania in September 2024,[6] Qualifier B was held in Kenya in October 2024[7] and Qualifier C will be held in Nigeria in November 2024.[8] The top two sides of each sub-regional qualifier will advance to the regional final, where they will join Namibia and Uganda who received a bye after participating in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

Africa Sub-regional Qualifiers
Qualifier A Qualifier B Qualifier C

Africa Qualifier A

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Tanzania 5 5 0 0 10 4.774 Advanced to the regional final
2   Malawi 5 4 1 0 8 3.241
3   Ghana 5 3 2 0 6 1.575 Eliminated
4   Cameroon 5 2 3 0 4 −1.191
5   Lesotho 5 1 4 0 2 −2.283
6   Mali 5 0 5 0 0 −6.637
Source: ESPNcricinfo[9]

Africa Qualifier B

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Zimbabwe 5 5 0 0 10 8.893 Advanced to the regional final
2   Kenya 5 4 1 0 8 3.108
3   Mozambique 5 3 2 0 6 −1.259 Eliminated
4   Rwanda 5 2 3 0 4 −1.853
5   Seychelles 5 1 4 0 2 −4.425
6   Gambia 5 0 5 0 0 −7.219
Source: ESPNcricinfo[10]

Africa Qualifier C

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Nigeria 2 2 0 0 4 9.550 Advance to the regional final
2   Botswana 2 2 0 0 4 1.737
3   Sierra Leone 2 1 1 0 2 3.920
4   Eswatini 2 1 1 0 2 0.000
5   Saint Helena 2 0 2 0 0 −4.150
6   Ivory Coast 2 0 2 0 0 −10.800
Updated to match(es) played on 24 November 2024. Source: ESPNcricinfo[11]

Africa regional final

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR
1   Kenya 0 0 0 0 0
2   Malawi 0 0 0 0 0
3   Namibia 0 0 0 0 0
4   Tanzania 0 0 0 0 0
5   Uganda 0 0 0 0 0
6   Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0
7 Winner of Qualifier C 0 0 0 0 0
8 Runner-up of Qualifier C 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: [citation needed]

Americas Qualifier

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Americas Qualifier
Sub-regional Qualifier Regional Final
Direct qualifiers Sub-regional qualifiers

The qualification stages are as follows:

  • Americas Sub-regional Qualifier: Nine teams to play round-robin matches from 6 to 16 December 2024 in Argentina
  • Americas Regional Final: To be decided

Americas sub-regional qualifier

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the regional final
2   Bahamas 0 0 0 0 0
3   Belize 0 0 0 0 0
4   Bermuda 0 0 0 0 0
5   Brazil 0 0 0 0 0
6   Cayman Islands 0 0 0 0 0
7   Mexico 0 0 0 0 0
8   Panama 0 0 0 0 0
9   Suriname 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 6 December 2024. Source: [citation needed]


Asia–East Asia-Pacific Qualifier

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The qualification stages are as follows:

  • EAP Qualifier A: Four teams played double round-robin matches from 17 to 24 August 2024 in Samoa.
  • Asia Qualifier A: Seven teams played round-robin matches from 30 August to 9 September 2024 in Malaysia.
  • EAP Qualifier B: Four teams played double round-robin matches from 28 September to 5 October 2024 in South Korea.
  • Asia Qualifier B: Seven teams are playing round-robin matches from 19 to 28 November 2024 in Qatar.
  • Asia–EAP Regional Final: To be decided.

Asia sub-regional qualifiers

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In the Asia sub-regional phase, Qualifier A was held in Malaysia in August and September 2024.[12] and Qualifier B is being held in Qatar in November 2024.[13] The top two sides of each Asia sub-regional qualifier will advance to a combined regional final, where they will join Nepal and Oman who received a bye after participating in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup along with the EAP finalists.

Asia Sub-regional Qualifiers
Qualifier A Qualifier B

Asia Qualifier A

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Malaysia 6 5 1 0 10 2.612 Advanced to the regional final
2   Kuwait 6 4 1 1 9 5.053
3   Hong Kong 6 4 1 1 9 4.945 Eliminated
4   Singapore 6 4 2 0 8 3.141
5   Maldives 6 2 4 0 4 −1.368
6   Myanmar 6 1 5 0 2 −3.712
7   Mongolia 6 0 6 0 0 −7.145
Source: ESPNcricinfo[14]

Asia Qualifier B

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   United Arab Emirates 4 4 0 0 8 3.355 Advance to the regional final
2   Qatar 3 3 0 0 6 1.583
3   Bahrain 3 2 1 0 4 1.463
4   Thailand 4 2 2 0 4 −1.941
5   Saudi Arabia 3 1 2 0 2 1.083
6   Cambodia 3 0 3 0 0 −1.623
7   Bhutan (E) 4 0 4 0 0 −3.326
Updated to match(es) played on 23 November 2024. Source: ESPNcricinfo[15]
(E) Eliminated

East Asia-Pacific sub-regional qualifiers

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In the East-Asia Pacific sub-regional phase, Qualifier A was held in Samoa in August 2024[16] and Qualifier B was held in South Korea in September and October 2024.[17] The winners of EAP sub-regional qualifiers will advance to a combined regional final, where they will join Papua New Guinea who received a bye after participating in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup along with the Asia finalists.

East Asia-Pacific Sub-regional Qualifiers
Qualifier A Qualifier B

EAP Qualifier A

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Samoa 6 4 2 0 8 1.270 Advanced to the regional final
2   Cook Islands 6 4 2 0 8 −0.008
3   Fiji 6 3 3 0 6 −0.858
4   Vanuatu 6 1 5 0 2 −0.306
Source: ESPNcricinfo[18]


EAP Qualifier B

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Japan 6 6 0 0 12 3.527 Advanced to the regional final
2   Philippines 6 3 3 0 6 1.235 Eliminated
3   Indonesia 6 3 3 0 6 −1.834
4   South Korea 6 0 6 0 0 −2.840
Source: ESPNcricinfo[19]


Asia–East Asia-Pacific regional final

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Japan 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the
2026 T20 World Cup
2   Kuwait 0 0 0 0 0
3   Malaysia 0 0 0 0 0
4     Nepal 0 0 0 0 0
5   Oman 0 0 0 0 0
6   Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 0 0
7   Samoa 0 0 0 0 0
8 Winner of Asia Qualifier B 0 0 0 0 0
9 Runner-up of Asia Qualifier B 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: unknown. Source: [citation needed]

Europe Qualifier

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Europe Sub-regional Qualifiers
Qualifier A Group 1   France   Isle of Man   Italy   Luxembourg   Turkey
Group 2   Austria   Hungary   Israel   Portugal   Romania
Qualifier B Group 1   Belgium   Croatia   Jersey   Serbia    Switzerland
Group 2   Germany   Gibraltar   Norway   Slovenia   Sweden
Qualifier C Group 1   Cyprus   Czech Republic   Denmark   Greece   Spain
Group 2   Bulgaria   Estonia   Finland   Guernsey   Malta
Europe Regional Final
Direct qualifiers   Netherlands   Scotland
Sub-regional qualifiers   Guernsey   Italy   Jersey

The qualification stages are as follows:[20]

  • Europe Qualifier A: Ten teams divided into two groups of five played round-robin and knockout matches from 9 to 16 June 2024 in Italy.
  • Europe Qualifier B: Ten teams divided into two groups of five played round-robin and knockout matches from 7 to 14 July 2024 in Germany.
  • Europe Qualifier C: Ten teams divided into two groups of five played round-robin and knockout matches from 21 to 28 August 2024 in Guernsey.
  • Europe Regional Final: To be decided.

Europe sub-regional qualifiers

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In the sub-regional phase, Qualifier A was held in Italy in June 2024,[21] Qualifier B was held in Germany in July 2024[22] and Qualifier C was held in Guernsey in August 2024.[23] The winners of each sub-regional qualifier advanced to the regional final.

Europe Qualifier A

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Group A
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Italy 4 4 0 0 8 2.429 Advanced to the final
2   France 4 3 1 0 6 0.702 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Isle of Man 4 2 2 0 4 1.180 Advanced to the 5th place play-off
4   Luxembourg 4 1 3 0 2 −1.000 Advanced to the 7th place play-off
5   Turkey 4 0 4 0 0 −3.308 Eliminated
Source: ESPNcricinfo[24]
Group B
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Romania 4 4 0 0 8 1.404 Advanced to the final
2   Austria 4 3 1 0 6 1.466 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Portugal 4 1 3 0 2 −0.493 Advanced to the 5th place play-off
4   Israel 4 1 3 0 2 −0.984 Advanced to the 7th place play-off
5   Hungary 4 1 3 0 2 −1.075 Eliminated
Source: ESPNcricinfo[24]
Europe Qualifier A – Final
Winner Margin Runners-up
  Italy
244/4 (20 overs)
Italy won by 160 runs
scorecard
  Romania
84 (17.4 overs)

Europe Qualifier B

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Group A
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Jersey 4 3 0 1 7 7.333 Advanced to the final
2   Croatia 4 2 1 1 5 −0.266 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Belgium 4 2 2 0 4 −0.363 Eliminated
4    Switzerland 4 2 2 0 4 −1.089
5   Serbia 4 0 4 0 0 −4.247
Source: ESPNcricinfo[25]
Group B
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Norway 4 4 0 0 8 2.709 Advanced to the final
2   Germany 4 2 1 1 5 0.583 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Sweden 4 2 2 0 4 1.895 Eliminated
4   Slovenia 4 1 2 1 3 −3.363
5   Gibraltar 4 0 4 0 0 −2.126
Source: ESPNcricinfo[25]
Europe Qualifier B – Final
Winner Margin Runners-up
  Jersey
71/4 (7.1 overs)
Jersey won by 6 wickets
scorecard
  Norway
69 (15.4 overs)

Europe Qualifier C

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Group A
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Denmark 4 3 0 1 7 4.867 Advanced to the final
2   Spain 4 3 0 1 7 1.263 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Czech Republic 4 2 2 0 4 −0.373 Advanced to the 5th place play-off
4   Cyprus 4 1 3 0 2 −1.629 Advanced to the 7th place play-off
5   Greece 4 0 4 0 0 −2.876
Source: ESPNcricinfo[26]
Group B
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Guernsey 4 3 1 0 6 2.952 Advanced to the final
2   Finland 4 3 1 0 6 2.184 Advanced to the 3rd place play-off
3   Estonia 4 3 1 0 6 −0.102 Advanced to the 5th place play-off
4   Malta 4 1 3 0 2 −0.577 Advanced to the 7th place play-off
5   Bulgaria 4 0 4 0 0 −3.975
Source: ESPNcricinfo[26]
Europe Qualifier C – Final
Winner Margin Runners-up
  Guernsey
159/4 (18.4 overs)
Guernsey won by 6 wickets
scorecard
  Denmark
158/7 (20 overs)

Europe regional final

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The winners of each sub-regional qualifier advanced to the regional final, where they joined Scotland and Netherlands who received a bye after participating in the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. Italy advanced from Qualifier A,[27] Jersey advanced from Qualifier B[28] and Guernsey advanced from Qualifier C.[29][30] The top two sides of regional final will advance to the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Method of qualification No. of teams Team
2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup
2
  Netherlands
  Scotland
Europe Qualifier A
1
  Italy
Europe Qualifier B
1
  Jersey
Europe Qualifier C
1
  Guernsey
Total 5

Europe regional final standings

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Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1   Guernsey 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the
2026 Men's T20 World Cup
2   Italy 0 0 0 0 0
3   Jersey 0 0 0 0 0
4   Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0
5   Scotland 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: TBD. Source: [citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Stop clock set to become a permanent fixture in white-ball internationals from T20 World Cup 2024". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b "All you need to know about 2026 T20 World Cup qualification". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 18 May 2024.
  3. ^ "How does qualification for the 2026 T20 World Cup work?". Wisden. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Sri Lanka, India to co-host ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  5. ^ Sportstar, Team (2024-07-02). "T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan, New Zealand, Ireland secure automatic qualification despite failing to make it to Super Eight". Sportstar. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  6. ^ "Tanzania Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier A in September 2024". Czarsports. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  7. ^ "Kenya Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier B in October 2024". Czarsports. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Nigeria Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier C in November 2024". Czarsports. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  9. ^ "T20WC Africa Sub Regional QLF A 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  10. ^ "T20WC Africa Sub Regional QLF B 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  11. ^ "T20WC Africa Sub Regional QLF C 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 November 2024.
  12. ^ "Malaysia Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier A in August/September 2024". Czarsports. 31 May 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  13. ^ "Qatar Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier B in November 2024". Czarsports. 23 September 2024.
  14. ^ "T20WC Asia Sub Regional QLF A 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  15. ^ "T20 World Cup Asia QLF B 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 November 2024.
  16. ^ "Samoa Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup EAP Sub-regional Qualifier A in August 2024". Czarsportz. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  17. ^ "A historic first for South Korea as dates and venues for the 2024 Pathway Events are announced". International Cricket Council. 5 March 2024. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  18. ^ "East Asia-Pacific QLF A 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  19. ^ "East Asia-Pacific QLF B 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Italy, Germany, Denmark set to host ICC event for first-time ever in 2024". Asian News International. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  21. ^ "Italy Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier "A" in June 2024". Czarsportz. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  22. ^ "Germany Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier "B" in July 2024". Czarsportz. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  23. ^ "Guernsey Cricket to host 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup Europe Sub-regional Qualifier "C" in August 2024". Czarsportz. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  24. ^ a b "T20WC Europe Sub Regional QLF A 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  25. ^ a b "T20WC Europe Sub Regional QLF B 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2024-08-20.
  26. ^ a b "T20WC Europe Sub Regional QLF C 2024 - Points Table". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  27. ^ "Italy advance in Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualification after victory in Rome". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Jersey win in Germany to advance in ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 pathway". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
  29. ^ "Guernsey reach T20 World Cup qualifiers". BBC Sport. 28 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  30. ^ "Hard work pays off in historic Guernsey win". Guernsey Press. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.