There is a lot of enthusiasm among cricket fans about the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, the tournament that will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. India clinched the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, and the fans have become much more curious to know when and where the next T20 World Cup will be played.
The Indian team will now have their eyes on the next ICC trophy. The Men in Blue are a strong contender to win the title next year, because the next T20 World Cup will be played on home soil. In the final of the ICC T20 World Cup 2024, India defeated South Africa and won an ICC trophy after 11 years.
Sri Lanka and India have qualified for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the co-hosts. With Rohit Sharma and another legend, Virat Kohli, out of frame for T20, India will be testing a new-look team in the T20 World Cup event. 15 teams have already qualified, with Italy being the most recent addition. Let's have a look at the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule.
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T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Matches, Dates, Teams & Venues
T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Tentative Dates & Venues
The T20 World Cup 2026 schedule is not yet out, but it is expected to take place from February 7 to March 8, with India and Sri Lanka sharing hosting duties. A total of 20 teams will compete in the tournament, which will be spread across multiple locations, with at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka set to hold matches.
As for the final, it is set to be held either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, with the venue choice depending on whether Pakistan reaches the title clash. Due to the ongoing political tensions between the Indian and Pakistani governments, the two nations have agreed not to play in each other's countries, which has influenced how the tournament is being planned.
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup will follow the same structure used during the 2024 edition held in the USA and the West Indies. In that format, 20 teams were split into four groups of five. The top two sides from each group moved on to the Super Eight stage, which was then divided into two groups of four teams each.
From there on, the best two teams in each Super Eight group advanced to the semi-finals. India, who are heading into the tournament as defending champions, claimed the title in 2024 with a memorable win over South Africa in the final held in Barbados. That edition featured a total of 55 matches from start to finish.
T20 World Cup 2026 Squads
The squads for the T20 World Cup 2026 have not been announced yet, as there are still quite a few months before the mega ICC event. Although the captains of the Big 3, i.e., India, Australia, and England, are likely to be their current T20I captains only. Suryakumar Yadav is likely to lead India in the World Cup, while Mitchell Marsh and Harry Brook are likely to lead Australia and England respectively.
The venue for the finals is also almost confirmed, with the Narendra Modi Stadium set to host the T20 World Cup Final 2026, if Pakistan doesn't qualify, or else it will be in Colombo. Both are among the most beautiful cricket stadiums in the world and are perfect to host a big occasion like a final.
When Will the T20 World Cup 2026 be Held?
The next T20 World Cup will be held in 2026, and the ICC has given a window from February to March for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup will be the tenth edition of the mega tournament. A total of 20 teams will participate in this World Cup as well, and the ICC has already given a lot of information about the next World Cup. However, the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup start date is February 10, 2026.
T20 World Cup 2026 Teams
Like the 2024 T20 World Cup, 2026 will also have 20 teams, out of which 15 teams have qualified. The list also includes the names of the Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand teams that were eliminated before the Super-8 of the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. On the other hand, India, being the co-host, automatically qualified for the tournament along with Sri Lanka. It is worth mentioning that the remaining 8 teams will emerge from regional qualifiers.
T20 World Cup 2026 Host Country Qualification
- India
- Sri Lanka
Qualified for Reaching in T20 World Cup 2024 Super-8
- Australia
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- England
- South Africa
- USA
- West Indies
Qualified Based on ICC Ranking
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Canada
Qualified from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifiers
- Netherlands
- Italy
| Total Matches | 55 |
|---|---|
| Match Format | 20 Overs Format |
| Tournament | Round-robin and Knockout |
| T20 World Cup Host Country | India & Sri Lanka |
| Teams Qualified (15) | India, Sri Lanka, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, New Zealand, Ireland, Pakistan, Canada, Netherlands, and Italy |
Clash of Titans: IND vs PAK Rivalry
The India vs Pakistan clash at the 2026 T20 World Cup, likely to be held in Sri Lanka, is expected to be a spectacle. It is easily the greatest rivalry in cricket. India, the defending champions, have dominated Pakistan, winning 7 out of 8 T20 World Cup encounters. T20 superstars like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya from India, and Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi from Pakistan, are likely to light up the field with their big hits and fast bowling respectively.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country will host T20 World Cup 2026?
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Which country will host T20 World Cup 2026?
India and Sri Lanka will host the T20 World Cup 2026.
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