The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is expected to run from February 7 to March 8, setting up a big cricket stretch for the year.
The tournament will feature 20 teams, placed into four groups of five. The ICC released the official schedule of the T20 World Cup 2026 on November 25.
Here, we bring you the expected distribution of all 20 teams, the group structure for the T20 2026 World Cup, and much more.
How Is the Group Structure of The ICC T20 World Cup 2026?
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 keeps a straightforward group structure. All 20 teams are placed into four groups of five, and every team plays four group-stage matches.
The top two from each group move into the Super Eight, where the eight teams are split into two new groups of four. Each team plays three matches in this round.
From there, the top two in both Super Eight groups reach the semi-finals, and the winners play the final.
Teams Qualified for ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
All 20 teams in the T20 World Cup 2026 have qualified through different routes. Here’s the full breakdown:
| Qualification Category | Teams |
|---|---|
| Hosts | India, Sri Lanka |
| Top 7 Finishers – 2024 T20 WC | Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, USA, West Indies |
| Rankings-Based Qualification | New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland |
| Regional Qualifiers – Americas | Canada |
| Regional Qualifiers – Europe | Italy, Netherlands |
| Regional Qualifiers – Africa | Namibia, Zimbabwe |
| Regional Qualifiers – Asia/EAP | Nepal, Oman, UAE |
All the qualified teams for the T20 World Cup 2026 have their own strengths and weaknesses. India enters as the defending champions after a successful win over South Africa in 2024.
Apart from India, England and Australia are strong teams because they usually perform well in most matches.
At the same time, teams like Afghanistan and Bangladesh have shown good improvement, finishing among the top seven, so they could surprise others again in the upcoming World Cup.
T20 World Cup 2026 Probable Groups Distribution
Here is how the 20 teams are divided into five groups:
Group A
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| India | Tournament Host |
| Netherlands | Europe Qualifier |
| Namibia | Africa Qualifier |
| United States | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| Pakistan | ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings |
Group B
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | Tournament Host |
| Australia | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | Africa Qualifier |
| Oman | Asia/EAP Qualifier |
| Ireland | ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings |
Group C
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| England | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| West Indies | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| Bangladesh | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| Italy | Europe Qualifier |
| Nepal | Asia–EAP Qualifier |
Group D
| Team | Qualification Path |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| New Zealand | ICC Men’s T20 Team Rankings |
| South Africa | Top 7 finish T20WC 2024 |
| Canada | Americas Qualifier |
| United Arab Emirates | Asia/EAP Qualifier |
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Conclusion: The T20 World Cup 2026 Will See 20 Teams Split Into Four Groups of Five
Twenty teams are going to fight it out for T20 World Cup supremacy in India and Sri Lanka. They are divided into four groups of five, with each team playing four group-stage matches.
Every match will be important because only the top teams move on. Teams will need to start strong and stay consistent to secure a place in the knockout rounds.
FAQs
Group seedings for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 are based on host separation, top-ranked teams, and regional qualifier results.
Match venues can definitely affect team performance due to pitch conditions, weather, and home advantage, influencing results in group matches.
India vs Pakistan is one match to look out for in the tournament.
Each team in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 groups will play four matches during the group stage against group opponents.
India and Pakistan, two Asian teams, are in Group A. Bangladesh and Nepal are in Group C.
