The stage is officially set for the World Cup 2026! The final team roster for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka next year, has been confirmed. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) clinched the final spot, completing the exciting list of 20 participating teams following the conclusion of all continental qualification campaigns.
The pathway to the 2026 tournament was structured to include 12 automatic qualifiers and eight teams earning their place through regional qualifiers.
The hosts, India and Sri Lanka, received direct entry. They were joined by the eight teams that reached the Super 8 stage of the 2024 edition, securing their participation for the World Cup 2026. These Super 8 teams were: South Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, West Indies, and USA.
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Filling the remaining automatic spots were three teams who qualified based on the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings as of June 30, 2024. These teams were Ireland, Pakistan, and New Zealand.
The remaining eight berths were determined by continental qualifying tournaments. The Asia/East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier provided the final drama, with the UAE joining Oman and Nepal as the three teams to seal their passage.
The other five regional spots were distributed as follows: one from the Americas, two each from Africa and Europe. With all qualifiers now done, the complete list of 20 nations is finalized for the World Cup 2026.
The complete lineup of 20 participating nations for the ICC T20I World Cup 2026 has been finalized. The tournament’s co-hosts, India and Sri Lanka, secured automatic spots.
They are joined by the seven other teams that reached the Super 8 stage of the 2024 edition: South Africa, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, West Indies, and the USA. The final three automatic spots based on the ICC T20I Rankings went to New Zealand, Pakistan, and Ireland.
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The remaining eight teams qualified via their respective continental tournaments: Canada from the Americas; Italy and the Netherlands from Europe; Namibia and Zimbabwe from Africa; and finally, Oman, Nepal, and the UAE from the Asia-EAP Qualifiers.