ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Hosts, Format, and Qualified Teams. The ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the tenth edition of the tournament, will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026. A total of 20 teams will compete in the event, which will feature 55 matches.
The tournament will follow a format similar to the previous edition. The 20 teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super Eight stage, where teams will be split into two groups of four. The top two from each Super Eight group will then move on to the semi-finals.
Qualification for ICC T20 World Cup 2026:
12 teams qualified directly. This includes the hosts, teams that reached the Super Eight stage in the previous edition, and two teams from the ICC T20I rankings at a specified cut-off date.
Since India both hosted and reached the Super Eight in 2024, only seven teams advanced through the Super Eight qualification. The remaining three spots were filled via the T20I rankings.
The remaining eight teams will qualify through regional tournaments:
- Europe: 2 teams
- Africa: 2 teams
- Asia & East Pacific: 3 teams
- Americas: 1 team
List of teams who have already qualified for ICC T20 World Cup 2026
| No. | Team | Qualification Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | Direct entry as hosts and defending champions (won 2024 T20 WC by defeating South Africa). |
| 2 | Sri Lanka | Direct entry as co-hosts of the tournament. |
| 3 | Afghanistan | Direct entry for reaching the Super Eight in 2024; lost to South Africa in semi-finals. |
| 4 | Australia | Direct entry for reaching the Super Eight in 2024; did not advance to semi-finals. |
| 5 | Bangladesh | Direct entry for reaching the Super Eight in 2024; lost all three Super Eight matches. |
| 6 | England | Direct entry; reached semi-finals in 2024, lost to India by 68 runs. |
| 7 | South Africa | Direct entry as runners-up in 2024 T20 WC (lost final to India by 7 runs). |
| 8 | USA | Direct entry; reached Super Eight in 2024 but lost all three matches. |
| 9 | West Indies | Direct entry; reached Super Eight in 2024 while hosting the tournament. |
| 10 | Pakistan | Qualified via ICC T20I rankings (7th on June 30, 2024); exited in first round in 2024. |
| 11 | New Zealand | Qualified via ICC T20I rankings (6th on cut-off date); did not reach Super Eight in 2024. |
| 12 | Ireland | Qualified via ICC T20I rankings (11th on June 30, 2024); exited in first round in 2024. |
| 13 | Canada | Qualified through Americas Regional Qualifiers; defeated Bermuda by 6 wickets in June 2025 final. |
| 14 | Netherlands | Qualified through Europe Qualifiers; defeated Italy by 9 wickets in the final. |
| 15 | Italy | Qualified as runners-up in Europe Qualifiers; two spots available from Europe region. |
| 16 | Namibia | Qualified through Africa Regional Qualifiers; defeated Tanzania by 63 runs in semi-final (October 2025). |
| 17 | Zimbabwe | Qualified through Africa Regional Qualifiers; defeated Kenya in semi-final (October 2025). |