The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 will be held from 15 January to 6 February in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Sixteen teams will compete for the title over 41 matches.
The tournament begins with the group stage, moves to the Super Six, and ends with knockout matches to decide the winner.
This article covers the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 schedule, the teams, the venues, and how to watch matches live.
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 – Overview
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 |
| Hosts | Zimbabwe, Namibia |
| Dates | 15 Jan – 6 Feb 2026 |
| Teams | 16 |
| Matches | 41 |
| Format | ODI |
| Stages | Group Stage → Super Six → Semi-finals → Final |
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 – Schedule
The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 starts on 15 January in Bulawayo with India facing the USA first.
Here is the complete schedule of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026:
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (Local) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan | USA vs India | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 15 Jan | Zimbabwe vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 15 Jan | Tanzania vs West Indies | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 16 Jan | Pakistan vs England | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 16 Jan | Australia vs Ireland | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 16 Jan | Afghanistan vs South Africa | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 17 Jan | India vs Bangladesh | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | Japan vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 18 Jan | New Zealand vs USA | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | Zimbabwe vs England | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 18 Jan | West Indies vs Afghanistan | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 19 Jan | Pakistan vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 19 Jan | Ireland vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 19 Jan | South Africa vs Tanzania | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 20 Jan | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | Australia vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 21 Jan | England vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 21 Jan | Afghanistan vs Tanzania | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 22 Jan | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 22 Jan | Ireland vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 22 Jan | West Indies vs South Africa | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 23 Jan | Bangladesh vs USA | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 23 Jan | Sri Lanka vs Australia | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 24 Jan | India vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 24 Jan | 16th Place Play-Off (A4 vs D4) | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 25 Jan | Super Six (A1 vs D3) | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 25 Jan | Super Six (D2 vs A3) | HP Oval, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 26 Jan | 16th Place Play-Off (B4 vs C4) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 26 Jan | Super Six (C1 vs B2) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 26 Jan | Super Six (D1 vs A2) | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 1:30 PM |
| 27 Jan | Super Six (C2 vs B3) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 27 Jan | Super Six (C3 vs B1) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 28 Jan | Super Six (A1 vs D2) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 29 Jan | Super Six (D3 vs A2) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 30 Jan | Super Six (D1 vs A3) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 30 Jan | Super Six (B3 vs C1) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 31 Jan | Super Six (B2 vs C3) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 1 Feb | Super Six (B1 vs C2) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 3 Feb | First Semi-Final | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 1:00 PM |
| 4 Feb | Second Semi-Final | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
| 6 Feb | Final | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 1:30 PM |
Warm-Up Schedule
All teams will arrive on 8 January and play warm-up matches from 9 to 14 January before the tournament officially starts on 15 January.
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 – Teams
Sixteen teams will compete in the ICC U19 World Cup 2026, showcasing young cricket talent from around the world.
The teams are as follows:
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- England
- India
- Ireland
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- United States of America
- West Indies
- Zimbabwe
- Afghanistan
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Group Format
The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 has four groups, each featuring strong teams competing to advance to the Super Six stage.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| A | Australia (defending champions), Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka |
| B | India (5-time winners), Bangladesh (2020 winners), USA, New Zealand |
| C | Zimbabwe (co-hosts), Pakistan, England, Scotland |
| D | Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa |
Venues for ICC U19 World Cup 2026
There will be five venues for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026, with Zimbabwe and Namibia jointly hosting the tournament.
Zimbabwe will host matches at Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club in Harare, and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. Namibia will host games at the Namibia Cricket Ground and HP Oval in Windhoek.
These venues mix established cricket grounds with newer facilities, giving teams a chance to adapt to different conditions and helping ICC develop cricket infrastructure across the continent.
Where to Watch ICC U19 World Cup 2026?
You can watch all ICC U19 World Cup 2026 matches live on Jio Hotstar for online streaming.
To watch the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 on TV, tune into Star Sports 1 or Star Sports 1 HD. Channel numbers may vary depending on your cable or DTH provider.
Also, Matches start at 09:30 local time in both Zimbabwe and Namibia, so international fans should adjust for their time zones to catch every game.
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Conclusion: The ICC U19 World Cup Starts on 15th January 2026
The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 will bring 16 teams to Zimbabwe and Namibia from 15 January to 6 February, moving from the group stage to the Super Six and then the knockouts.
This tournament has always been an early stage for young players to show what they can do, and every edition adds a fresh set of stories that follow them through their careers.
With the tournament not far away, keep checking for updates, track the final announcements, and stay ready as the 2026 edition comes together.
FAQs
Teams will reveal final squads soon, but selectors usually highlight strong domestic performers who show consistency, temperament, and confidence in youth tournaments.
The tournament follows standard ICC playing conditions for youth cricket. ICC will announce any rule changes before the tournament begins in January.
The top three teams from each group move into two Super Six pools, carrying forward points and playing cross-pool matches for semi-final spots.
Teams reach the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 through regional qualifying events across all five ICC regions, filling the remaining tournament slots.
Rain-affected knockout games have reserve days, while most group and Super Six matches rely on shortened overs or DLS adjustments instead.
