The road to 2028 T20 World Cups takes shape

The ICC confirmed the pathway for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 and outlined a new Global Qualifier for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2028

15 November, 2026

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028

The 16-team Global Qualifier, scheduled to be played in Q1 of 2028, will feature a total of 31 matches, with four groups of four competing across the Group Stage, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final.

A total of eight teams will qualify directly to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 from the tournament. The highest-placed team from each region will qualify, subject to minimum performance criteria, with the remaining places going to the next highest-placed teams overall.

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The qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 will pan out in the following way:

• The Semifinalists (Top 4): All four semifinalists secure their spot for the Men’s T20 World Cup automatically.

• Regional Representation: Every region (Africa, Americas, Asia, East-Asia Pacific and Europe) must have its highest-placed team qualify, subject to the following.

If a region’s top team makes the top eight teams, they qualify naturally.

If a region’s top team finishes 9th–12th (third in their group), they take the spot of the lowest-ranked team in the top eight that isn’t a regional top team.

• Remaining Spots: Any leftover berths go to the highest-ranked losing quarter-finalists based on group performance, points, wins, and net run-rate.

The sides which are lowest-ranked in their respective groups are not eligible to qualify for the Men’s T20 World Cup.

India lift the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 Trophy | Final | T20WC 2026

Champions India lift the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 trophy.

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028

Australia, India, South Africa, Bangladesh, England, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and hosts Pakistan have qualified automatically.

The remaining two places will be determined through the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier 2028, which will feature 10 teams.

Netherlands and Scotland, having participated in the 2026 tournament without securing automatic qualification for 2028, will progress directly to the Global Qualifier.

They will be joined by eight teams advancing through five regional qualification events scheduled for 2027. The top two teams from the Global Qualifier will secure the final places at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2028.