The ICC approved the qualification process for the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 on Friday. The World Cricket governing body confirmed the 20-team tournament and qualification process at its most recent executive board meeting on March 15 in Dubai. India and Sri Lanka will co-host the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 in February and March, with 20 teams competing in 55 matches, similar to the upcoming 2024 edition in the United States and the Caribbean.
Twelve teams will qualify automatically, including two hosts, India and Sri Lanka, while eight teams will compete in regional qualifiers to earn a spot. In addition, the top eight teams for the Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 will be automatically qualified, with the next highest-ranked teams filling the remaining spots.
The Board also approved the qualification process for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup, according to an ICC media release. “The event, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka, will have 12 automatic qualifiers.” These will include the joint hosts as well as the top eight teams from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, with the remaining spots (2-4 depending on host finishing positions) filled by the next highest-ranked teams on the ICC Men’s T20I rankings table as of June 30, 2024. The remaining eight teams will be determined via Regional Qualifiers.
Accordingly, the top twelve move up to the ICC rankings for 2026.
Yeah, most likely. however, not always. The direct qualifying spot that would have gone to the 12th-ranked team would have been claimed by any of the teams ranked 13th or lower if they advanced to the Super 8s. One rung is removed from the ladder for each team that qualifies for the Super 8s but is not among the top 12. Thus, only the top ten on the table would be safe if, for example, both Uganda and the United States advanced past the Group Stage.
ICC T20 World Cup 2026 qualification places:
Hosts: 2 teams (India and Sri Lanka)
Top 8 teams from T20 World Cup 2024 edition
Two highest-ranked ICC T20 teams after the top ten sides
Europe Qualifiers: 2 teams
Asia Qualifiers: 2 teams
Africa Qualifiers: 2 teams
East Asia-Pacific Qualifier: 1 team
Americas Qualifier: 1 team