As the excitement of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 fades, focus now shifts to the regional qualifiers that will determine the final seven teams for the 2026 edition. Scheduled to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, both countries have already secured automatic entry.
13 Teams Already Secured Qualification
So far, 13 teams have confirmed their places for the T20 World Cup 2026. India and Sri Lanka enter as co-hosts, while seven teams qualified via the Super Eight stage of the 2024 tournament — Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies.
The USA’s historic victory over Pakistan in a Super Over during the 2024 event helped secure their direct entry. Despite falling short of the Super Eights, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland also made the cut due to their strong ICC T20I rankings as of June 30, 2024.
Canada Clinches Spot from Americas
Canada has secured one of the final spots after dominating the Americas Regional Final on home soil. They remained unbeaten against Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands, marking a return to the global stage and joining the elite group heading to the 2026 tournament.
Three Regional Finals to Decide Remaining Seven
The race is heating up as three regional finals are set to determine the remaining seven qualifiers:
Africa Regional Final (Sept 19 – Oct 4, Zimbabwe): Eight teams will battle for two spots. Participating nations include Zimbabwe, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Malawi, Nigeria, and Tanzania. Namibia and Uganda are eager to bounce back after missing the Super Eights in 2024, while Zimbabwe looks to capitalize on home advantage.
Asia/East Asia-Pacific Final (Oct 1 – Oct 17): Three teams will qualify from this combined event. Teams include Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, UAE, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Japan, and Samoa. The mix of experienced sides and emerging nations sets the stage for a thrilling competition.
Europe Regional Final (July 5 – 11, Netherlands): Two spots are on offer. Hosts Netherlands and Scotland lead the field, while Italy, Jersey, and Guernsey round out the competition. Italy’s inclusion of ex-Australian player Joe Burns adds extra firepower.
The T20 World Cup 2026 will maintain its 20-team, 55-match format, promising another electrifying edition of the global cricketing event.