ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: 20 Teams Gear Up for Historic Tournament Across India and Sri Lanka

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is officially set to kick off on February 7, marking the largest edition in the tournament’s history. For the first time, 20 nations will compete across India and Sri Lanka in cricket’s shortest format, delivering a month-long international spectacle that promises excitement, records, and historic firsts.

Event Details and Venue Information

• Event Type: International Sports Tournament (Cricket)
  
  

• Event Name: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
  
  

• Description: The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be the tenth edition of the premier Twenty20 international cricket championship, co‑hosted by India and Sri Lanka, featuring 20 top international teams competing across multiple world‑class venues. The tournament promises high‑intensity T20 action and is one of the biggest events on the global cricket calendar.
  
  

• Start Date: 2026‑02‑07
  
  

• Time: N/A
  
  

• End Date: 2026‑03‑08
  
  

• Time: N/A
  
  

• Location: Multiple Host Cities across India & Sri Lanka
  
  

• Place: South Asia (Co‑Host Nations)
  
  

• Street Address: N/A (Multiple Stadium Locations)
  
  

• Address Locality: Various Host Cities
  
  

• Address Region: India and Sri Lanka
  
  

• Postal Code: N/A

Historic Expansion to 20 Teams Reshapes Tournament Structure

The 2026 edition represents a milestone in global cricket, expanding from the traditional 16-team format to 20 teams, spread across four groups of five. This structure will feature 55 matches over a 30-day window, culminating on March 8.

• Automatic Qualification: Based on 2024 T20 World Cup results, with India and Sri Lanka as co-hosts, alongside Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, and West Indies.

• ICC T20I Rankings Entry: Ireland, New Zealand, and Pakistan earned direct qualification through rankings.

• Regional Qualifiers: The remaining eight spots were decided via regional qualifying tournaments.

• Historic Debuts:

• Italy competes in a global cricket tournament for the first time.

• Curaçao becomes the smallest nation ever to participate in a T20 World Cup.

Tournament Schedule: February 7 – March 8

The ICC announced the official schedule on November 24, 2025, confirming venues, dates, and group compositions. The tournament opens at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, with defending champions India facing the United States.

Tournament Phases:

• Group Stage: February 7–20 (4 groups of 5 teams)
  
  

• Super 8 Stage: February 21 – March 1 (2 groups of 4 teams)
  
  

• Semi-finals: March 4–5
  
  

• Final: March 8 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
  
  

Each team in the group stage will play four matches, ensuring competitive balance while maintaining momentum throughout the initial phase.

Group Stage Draw: Competitive Divisions

The tournament’s groups have been designed to balance traditional powerhouses with emerging cricket nations:

• Group A: India, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia, USA
  
  

• Group B: Sri Lanka, Australia, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
  
  

• Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
  
  

• Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
  
  

Cricket analysts have already flagged Group D as the most competitive, with several established teams vying for top Super 8 spots.

India vs Pakistan Match Moves to Colombo

• India vs Pakistan Match: Scheduled for February 15, 2026, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

• Neutral Venue Agreement: BCCI and PCB agreed to host India-Pakistan matches at neutral locations.

• Pakistan’s Group Matches: All of Pakistan’s group games will be played in Sri Lanka, requiring the team to be locally based.

• ICC Statement: Neutral venue ensures competitive fairness and respects diplomatic protocols.

• Preparation Equality: Both teams will have equal conditions and preparation time for the match.

World Class Venues Across India and Sri Lanka

The tournament will be held across eight premier stadiums:

India:

• Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad (Final)
  
  

• Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Opening match)
  
  

• Eden Gardens, Kolkata
  
  

• MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
  
  

• Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
  
  

Sri Lanka:

• R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo (Pakistan matches)
  
  

• Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, Colombo
  
  

• Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
  
  

The Narendra Modi Stadium will host the final, cementing its status as the world’s largest cricket stadium with a seating capacity of 132,000.

Record-Breaking Ticket Demand

Ticket sales for the tournament began on December 11, 2025, with over 2 million tickets released in Phase 1. Entry prices start at ₹100 in India and LKR 1,000 in Sri Lanka.

The India-Pakistan match, along with India vs USA and the final, emerged as the most requested fixtures, generating unprecedented global demand. Tickets are available through:

• ICC official portal: tickets.cricketworldcup.com
  
  

• India: BookMyShow, Paytm, Insider
  
  

• Sri Lanka: Official Sri Lanka Cricket partners
  
  

• Offline box offices in major cities
  
  

Phase 2 sales will continue in the lead-up to the tournament, including premium hospitality packages for corporate and VIP guests.

Defending Champions India Enter as Favorites

India, winners of the 2024 T20 World Cup, enters as the tournament favorite. Led by T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, the squad combines aggressive batting with world-class spin options.

India’s group-stage fixtures:

• February 7: India vs USA (Wankhede, Mumbai)
  
  

• February 12: India vs Namibia (Delhi)
  
  

• February 15: India vs Pakistan (Colombo)
  
  

• February 18: India vs Netherlands (Ahmedabad)
  
  

Suryakumar Yadav emphasized, “Winning at home carries special significance. Our focus is on replicating the 2024 championship-winning formula while adapting to tournament pressure.”

Early Contenders and Dark Horses

Cricket analysts predict Australia, England, Afghanistan, South Africa, and co-host Sri Lanka as strong contenders alongside India.

• Australia: Semi-finalists in 2024 with subcontinental experience
  
  

• England: Aggressive batting and strong death-overs bowling
  
  

• Afghanistan: World-class spinners and improving batting
  
  

• South Africa: Stable roster with proven ICC tournament experience
  
  

• Sri Lanka: Co-host advantage with a formidable spin attack
  
  

Global Broadcast and Streaming

The ICC has confirmed extensive broadcasting coverage:

India:

• Television: Star Sports 1, 2, 3 (Hindi/English)

• Free-to-Air: DD Sports

• Streaming: JioStar app and ICC.tv (digital)

International:

• ESPN+, Willow TV, and regional partners for global access

The ICC expects over 2 billion cumulative viewers, reflecting cricket’s growing global footprint.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Tournament Format

Group Stage (40 matches): Round-robin within groups, top 2 teams advance
Super 8 Stage (16 matches): Results from group stage carried forward, top 2 advance to semi-finals
Knockout Stage (3 matches): Semi-finals (March 4–5) and final (March 8, Ahmedabad)

Economic Impact

The ICC projects significant economic benefits for India and Sri Lanka, with 500,000+ international tourists expected during the tournament. The impact extends to broadcasting revenues, sponsorship, and hospitality sectors, positioning the event as a transformative sporting and economic milestone.

Final Countdown: Launch on February 7

With final preparations underway—security, ground readiness, and broadcasting infrastructure the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 will officially begin on February 7, 7:00 PM IST, with India facing the USA at Wankhede Stadium, kicking off a month-long cricket extravaganza ending on March 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad.

Quick Facts Summary: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026

1. When does the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 start and end?

The tournament begins on February 7, 2026, and concludes with the final on March 8, 2026.

2. Where is the T20 World Cup 2026 being hosted?

The tournament is co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches played across eight stadiums in both countries.

3. How many teams are participating in the T20 World Cup 2026?

A total of 20 teams are participating, making this the largest Men’s T20 World Cup in history.

4. How is the tournament format structured?

The competition includes:

• Group Stage: 4 groups of 5 teams (February 7–20)
  
  

• Super 8 Stage: Top 2 teams from each group advance (February 21–March 1)
  
  

• Semi-finals: March 4–5
  
  

• Final: March 8
  
  

A total of 55 matches will be played.

5. When and where is the India vs Pakistan match?

India will face Pakistan on February 15, 2026, at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, starting at 7:30 PM IST.