THE 2026 MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP is expected to run from 7 February to 8 March, with India and Sri Lanka confirmed as co-hosts. The tournament will feature 20 teams, though the International Cricket Council is still finalising the detailed schedule, according to ESPNcricinfo.
Matches are set to be played across at least five venues in India and two in Sri Lanka. The final is likely to be staged in either Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan qualifies, as India and Pakistan currently do not play in each other’s countries due to political tensions between the two governments.
So far, 15 teams have booked their places: India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Netherlands, and Italy — the latter qualifying for a World Cup for the very first time.
The remaining five slots will be filled through qualifiers: two teams from the Africa regional qualifier and three from the Asia and East Asia Pacific qualifier. The tournament format will follow the same structure as the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup.
