Men's T20 World Cup: Picture clearer ahead of 2026 tournament

By Daniel Beswick

As the world enjoyed the first 20-team edition of the Men's T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies in 2024, the make-up of the 2026 T20 World Cup takes shape through Regional Finals across the globe.

Joining the group of automatic qualifiers from 2024, Canada punched their ticket for a tournament return in 2026, thanks to their win at the recently concluded Americas Regional Final on home soil, while The Netherlands and Italy claimed spots from European action, the latter reaching a global tournament in cricket for the first time.

In Africa, Namibia claimed qualification for the fourth consecutive time, alongside Zimbabwe who missed out on a spot in 2024.

The Canadians completed an undefeated run on their road to India and Sri Lanka, brushing off the likes of Bermuda, Bahamas, and the Cayman Islands.

The Netherlands meanwhile claimed top spot in Europe, while Italy shocked Scotland on their way to sneaking to second place on net run rate over Jersey, who too upset the Scots in a final-ball thriller.

The two prevailing African sides went largely untouched in their qualifying paths, topping their respective four-team groups before winning crossover semi finals.

Namibia survived an early scare against Tanzania, while Zimbabwe cruised past Kenya for their T20 World Cup tickets.

Like the 2024 edition, the 2026 competition is again a 55-match affair, and the tournament will be played out in the same format, with four groups of five, before the Super Eights, semi-finals and a final to crown the next champion.

Before that though, the final three teams for the tournament need to be decided in the final qualifier, an Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in Oman from October 8.

Who is already in for T20 World Cup 2026?

As hosts, Sri Lanka and India take up the first two spots for 2026. From there, the next 10 spots were determined by Super Eight qualifiers at the 2024 edition, and ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings at the 30 June 2024 cut-off date.

Thanks to their strong First Round play and entry to the Super Eights, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa and the West Indies all secured 2026 T20 World Cup spots, as well as USA, who upstaged Pakistan in a Super Over to steal a Second Round spot in Group A.

Despite missing out on the Super Eights, Pakistan secured their place at the next edition thanks to their T20I ranking, alongside New Zealand and Ireland.

Joining Canada, The Netherlands and Italy will be the final five entrants for the 2026 edition via the three remaining regional qualifiers.

Breaking down each region

Africa

Regional Final Completed
T20WC qualification spots taken by Zimbabwe and Namibia

The eight-team regional final was dominated by the two prevailing teams, who stormed through group play undefeated, before brushing aside semi-final opposition for their tournament tickets.

It was a longer road for Zimbabwe, who were forced down a step to sub-regional action after their poor 2024 qualification campaign.

The Zimbabweans were one of 18 nations competing at the first level of qualifying, though were comfortable winners in their six-team group, accounting for the likes of Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Gambia and Kenya.

In the regional final, Zimbabwe exacted revenge against Uganda to claim top spot in group play, and booked their tickets with a seven-wicket win against Kenya.

Rakep Patel produced a stunning knock of 65 (47) for the Kenyans, though it was a solo mission on the whole as Zimbabwe's bowlers took control.

In pursuit of a modest 123, Zimbabwe made short work of the opposition bowling attack, with opener Brian Bennett taking to the attack and compiling 51 runs off 25 deliveries.

The right-hander carved out six fours off Lucas Ndandason’s over as the Chevrons eased to victory.

Also going unbeaten in their group, Namibia at one point fell to 41/4 in the fifth over in their semi-final against Tanzania, before a counter-attacking 88-run stand in 7.4 overs between the experienced pair of JJ Smit and Gerhard Erasmus moved their side ahead.

Erasmus showed the cool that has helped his side become T20 World Cup regulars, finishing with 55 from 41 balls, while the “Smit can hit” chants were once again belted for JJ, who hit four sixes in his 61 not out from 43 deliveries.

The all-rounder then continued his assertive day with the ball, removing three of Tanzania’s top five to finish with 3/16 from his four overs, stifling the Tanzanian reply.

Americas

Regional Final Completed
T20WC qualification spot taken by Canada

Having featured at last year’s Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, Canada arrived into the Regional Qualifier as one of the favourites to progress, having also benefited from USA's automatic qualification for T20 World Cup 2026.

The side kickstarted their campaign with a comprehensive win against Bermuda by 110 runs to set the tone, and followed up with a 59-run win against Cayman Islands and a 10-wicket thumping of Bahamas.

The Canadians locked in their spot on the penultimate matchday, beating Bahamas and watching Bermuda lose to the Cayman Islands to put them in an unassailable lead.

The side then closed out with a win over Bermuda on Sunday, finishing three wins clear of their nearest rival for tournament tickets.

Asia/East Asia-Pacific

Regional Final: October 8 to October 17
Qualification Spots Available: 3
Teams: Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Qatar, Samoa, UAE

The event with perhaps the most intrigue, budding qualifiers across two regions will combine in a nine-team Asia/East Asia-Pacific tournament, with three tournament available.

Almost 16,000 kilometres stretch between Eastern-most Samoa and Western-most Kuwait at the tournament, and the unknowns of opposition and styles of play make this Qualifier arguably the most open.

By virtue of their 2024 T20 World Cup participation, Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea were automatic entrants for the hybrid Qualifier, with the other six coming from two Sub-Regional events across each region.

Over in East Asia-Pacific, Samoa shocked the field to win their spot through Sub-Regional Qualifier A, beating out Cook Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji on home soil in Apia.

Caleb Jasmat's side qualified in a final-over thriller on the last day of the competition, beating Vanuatu in a tense defence of 145, breaking the hearts of Cook Islands players watching on having been overtaken by the Samoan victory.

The Samoans too are bolstered by the inclusion of Ross Taylor, who has come out of retirement to play for the nation of his mother's birth.

Japan meanwhile strolled to claim top spot in the other East Asia-Pacific Sub-Regional Qualifier, with Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming's side unbeaten in their trip to South Korea, beating out the hosts, Philippines and Indonesia.

Fourteen teams meanwhile took part in Asia Sub-Regionals across two competitions, with Malaysia and Kuwait prevailing in Qualifier A, alongside UAE and Qatar in Group B.

Having moved back to Sub-Regional action, the Emiratis were unbeaten in their group to reach the regional final, while Qatar were able to brush aside fellow building gulf sides Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Malaysia did enough on home soil to progress even after a defeat to Kuwait, whose Net Run Rate was enough to edge Hong Kong. A meeting between Kuwait and Hong Kong was scuppered by inclement weather.

Both Oman and Papua New Guinea will likely field dramatically different sides at the Qualifier to the teams that competed at the last T20 World Cup, though the Omanis' strong form in ODI cricket via Cricket World Cup League 2 point to an imposing outfit despite the extensive shuffles.

Europe

Regional Final Completed
T20WC qualification spots taken by The Netherlands and Italy

Squeezing into T20 World Cup 2026 qualification on rankings, Ireland were able to skip a tricky European pathway for T20 World Cup 2026, where 32 teams put their name into the qualification ring.

Italy, Jersey and Guernsey as Sub-Regional Qualifier winners joined Scotland and The Netherlands, and the five-team tournament to decide the two spots lived up to the billing as a thriller.

Four teams were still alive come the final day of the Regional Final, with Italy in the driver's seat having upset Scotland earlier in the single round-robin event.

The Scots squandered their chance to come back with a final-ball defeat to Jersey, who then needed both an Italy defeat to the Dutch and a large net run rate swing to sneak past the Azzurri.

It looked for a moment the Dutch (who also needed victory to progress) had done Jersey a favour, with Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd getting the hosts off to a flier in the Powerplay. The Italians had to prevent the Dutch to chase the target inside 15 overs, and managed to hold the hosts to a victory in the 17th over, meaning both teams of the afternoon fixture progressed.