The ICC has announced the schedule for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier. The tournament will commence on January 12, 2026, and conclude on February 2, 2026. Nepal has been entrusted with hosting this event.
ICC Women's T20 WC 2026: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the official schedule for the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier. This highly anticipated tournament will be held from January 12 to February 2, 2026, and hosted by Nepal, India's neighboring country. The mega event, spanning 21 days, will feature a total of 10 teams divided into two groups.
This marks the first time an emerging cricket nation like Nepal has been given the opportunity to host the Women's T20 World Cup Qualifier, a significant step towards promoting women's cricket in South Asia.
Teams Participating in the Qualifier
- Bangladesh (Based on T20 WC 2024 performance)
- Ireland (Based on T20 WC 2024 performance)
- Thailand (From Asia Region)
- Nepal (From Asia Region, Host)
- USA (From Americas Region)
The remaining 5 teams will be selected from the Africa, Europe, and East Asia-Pacific (EAP) regions:
- 2 teams from Africa
- 2 teams from Europe
- 1 team from East Asia-Pacific
These teams will be confirmed after the results of their respective regional qualifier tournaments.
Tournament Format: From Group Stage to Final
The ICC has announced that all 10 teams will be divided into two groups, with five teams in each group. In the group stage, each team will compete against the other four teams in its group. This will be followed by a Super Six stage, which will include the top three teams from each group. Based on performance in the Super Six, the top two teams will advance to the final.
Furthermore, the two finalists will directly qualify for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. The matches will be held at the Mulapani Cricket Stadium and the TU Ground in Kathmandu, Nepal.
ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026: A Glimpse of the Main Tournament
In addition to the two teams that qualify from the qualifier, the main tournament, i.e., the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, will be held in England and Wales. The ICC has already announced the schedule for the main tournament.
- Tournament Begins: June 12, 2026
- Final Match: July 5, 2026
- Total Matches: 33
- Venues: 7 prestigious stadiums, including:
- Old Trafford (Manchester)
- Headingley (Leeds)
- Hampshire Bowl (Southampton)
- Bristol County Ground, and others
This time, the final match will be held at London's historic Lord's Cricket Ground, adding immense prestige to it. This event is historic for Nepal in many ways. It will not only give global recognition to the country's cricket infrastructure but will also strengthen the popularity of women's cricket. This initiative of the ICC is considered an important step towards empowering emerging cricket nations.
