Excitement Builds for ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026: Key Matches and Teams Revealed!
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule Announced
Dubai: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially released the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will kick off on June 12 with England taking on Sri Lanka in the opening match. The tournament's grand finale is set for July 5 at the historic Lord's Cricket Ground.
This schedule comes after the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier held in Nepal last month, where Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands secured their spots, finalizing the 12-team lineup for this prestigious event.
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The four teams that qualified will join the defending champions New Zealand, the hosts England, the 2016 champions West Indies, the current ODI World Cup holders India, and the six-time winners Australia.
The tournament will feature twelve teams divided into two groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals.
India finds itself in Group A alongside six-time champions Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Netherlands. Their first match is against Pakistan on June 14 at Edgbaston, followed by a game against the Netherlands on June 16. They will also face South Africa on June 21, Bangladesh on June 25, and conclude their group stage against Australia on June 28.
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta remarked, “The announcement of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 schedule marks a significant step towards this premier global sporting event. This initiative reflects the ICC's ongoing commitment to women's cricket through enhanced participation, high-performance pathways, improved event standards, increased prize money, and broader media reach and commercial partnerships, aiming to elevate the sport's profile among fans worldwide.
He added, “The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India was a transformative event, breaking records and inspiring communities, and we aim to maintain that momentum into the June-July tournament.”
Despite competing in nine editions, India has yet to clinch the Women’s T20 World Cup title, having reached the semi-finals four times and finishing as runners-up in 2020. They will strive to achieve their first victory in the upcoming tournament.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Netherlands
Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Scotland