T20 World Cup 2026: All 20 Teams Confirmed! Format Explained for India-Sri Lanka Mega Event
18th October 2025, Kathmandu
The final line-up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is now complete. Co-hosted by cricket powerhouses India and Sri Lanka, the next global T20 spectacle will feature 20 nations following the conclusion of the regional qualifiers.
T20 World Cup 2026
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) secured the final coveted spot after defeating Japan by 8 wickets in the Super Six stage of the Asia-East Asia Pacific (EAP) Qualifier in Oman on Thursday.
This victory confirms the three qualifiers from the region, with Nepal and Oman having already sealed their qualification earlier this week.
The 20 Qualified Teams: A Global Line-up
The 20 teams set to compete in the 2026 World Cup have qualified through a multi-tiered process, combining hosting rights, performance in the previous edition, ICC rankings, and regional qualifiers.
Qualification Path | Teams (Total: 20) |
Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
Top 7 from T20 WC 2024 | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies |
ICC T20I Rankings | Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan |
Regional Qualifiers | Canada (Americas), Netherlands, Italy (Europe), Namibia, Zimbabwe (Africa), Nepal, Oman, UAE (Asia/EAP) |
For Nepal, this marks a consecutive appearance at the T20 World Cup and the third overall, solidifying their status on the global stage. Italy, having qualified from the Europe Qualifier, will make its inaugural appearance at an ICC Men’s World Cup.
Tournament Format: The Path to the Final
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the 2026 tournament will utilize the same format as the preceding edition, promising an action-packed 55-match event:
1. Group Stage
20 teams will be divided into four groups of five teams each (Groups A, B, C, D).
Teams in each group will play each other in a round-robin format.
The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the next round.
2. Super 8 Stage
The 8 qualifying teams will be split into two groups of four teams each.
Teams will play a second round-robin.
The top two teams from each of these two Super 8 groups will qualify for the knockouts.
3. Knockout Stage
The tournament culminates in the semi-finals, followed by the Grand Final to crown the 2026 T20 World Cup champion.
With the stage now set for the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup, all eyes will turn to India and Sri Lanka in early 2026 for what promises to be an intensely competitive tournament featuring both established giants and determined emerging nations like Nepal, Oman, and Italy.
For more: T20 World Cup 2026