Cricket fans can mark their calendars as all 20 nations have officially qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka. The final contingent of qualifiers was confirmed recently, with Nepal, Oman, and the UAE securing their berths via the rigorous Asia/East Asia-Pacific regional competition. This achievement signifies a proud moment for these cricketing nations.
Nepal will be making their third appearance overall and second in a row at the premier T20 international event. Oman marks its fourth participation, while the UAE returns for its third outing and first time since the 2022 tournament. European side Italy will be a notable newcomer, making their maiden appearance after a strong showing in the European Qualifiers, which also saw the Netherlands secure their spot.
India, the current champions after their victory against South Africa in the 2024 final, will be looking to defend their title. They are part of an elite group of multiple T20 World Cup champions, which also includes England and the West Indies. The tournament format will see 20 teams split into four groups of five. The top two from each group will progress to the Super Eights, where they will be divided into two groups of four. The semi-finals will feature the top two from each Super Eights group.
The confirmed list of participants for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is: India, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman, and UAE.