T20 World Cup 2026, It’s Official! The Final 20 Teams Are Locked In: Big news for cricket fans! All 20 teams for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 have now been confirmed. The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka next year. Following the recent Asia-EAP Qualifiers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also secured its place in the World Cup, making the overall picture of the mega-event clearer.
UAE’s impressive win and qualification
The United Arab Emirates secured a berth for the 2026 T20 World Cup with an impressive performance in the Asia-EAP Qualifiers.
Decisive victory over Japan
- Match Result: The UAE qualified by defeating Japan by eight wickets on Thursday.
- Bowling brilliance: UAE bowler Haider Ali bowled brilliantly, taking three crucial wickets for just 20 runs, leaving Japan all out for 117. was restricted to just 10 runs.
- Batting Foundation: Chasing the target, openers Alishan Sharafu and captain Mohammad Wasim put on a solid 70-run partnership for the first wicket, which played a key role in the team’s easy win.
Asian Qualifier Trio: Nepal and Oman also included
Just before the UAE, Nepal and Oman also achieved a major milestone for Asian cricket by qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup. These three teams, along with India and Sri Lanka, have strengthened Asian representation.
T20 World Cup 2026: How did the 20 teams qualify?
A total of 20 teams will participate in the next World Cup, selected based on various criteria:
Basis for Qualification | Teams (Example) |
---|---|
Host countries | India, Sri Lanka (direct entry) |
Top 7 teams for T20 World Cup 2024 | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa Africa, USA, West Indies (automatic entry) |
ICC T20 Rankings | New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland |
Regional Qualifiers | Canada (USA), Italy (first time), Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, UAE |
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Tournament format: 20 teams, 4 groups and Super-8 thriller
The format of the 2026 World Cup will remain the same as last time, which promises to make the tournament more competitive and exciting.
Group stage
- Total teams: 20
- Number of groups: 4
- Teams per group: Each group will consist of 5 teams.
- Matches: Each team will play one match against the other four teams in its group.
- Next stage: The top two teams from each group will advance to the Super 8 round.
Journey from Super 8 to Final
After the Super 8 round, the four best teams will advance to the semi-finals. The two winning teams from the semi-finals will face off for the World Cup title in the Grand Final.
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