T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Fixtures, Groups, Venues, India vs Pakistan & All You Need to Know
The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 schedule has been officially announced! The 10th edition of the prestigious tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. With 20 teams competing across 55 matches, this promises to be one of the biggest cricket events ever.
In this comprehensive guide, we cover everything about the T20 World Cup 2026 – from the complete schedule, groups, venues, India's matches, the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash, and more.
T20 World Cup 2026: Key Information at a Glance
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 (10th Edition) |
| Host Countries | India and Sri Lanka |
| Start Date | February 7, 2026 |
| Final | March 8, 2026 |
| Duration | 29 days |
| Total Teams | 20 |
| Total Matches | 55 |
| Venues | 8 (5 in India, 3 in Sri Lanka) |
| Defending Champions | India |
| Brand Ambassador | Rohit Sharma |
T20 World Cup 2026 Groups
The 20 qualified teams have been divided into four groups of five teams each:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | Australia | England | South Africa |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka | West Indies | New Zealand |
| USA | Zimbabwe | Bangladesh | Afghanistan |
| Netherlands | Ireland | Italy | Canada |
| Namibia | Oman | Nepal | UAE |
Note: India and Pakistan are in the same group (Group A), setting up an exciting group stage clash!
T20 World Cup 2026 Format
The tournament format remains the same as the 2024 edition:
Stage 1: Group Stage (February 7-20)
- 20 teams divided into 4 groups of 5 teams each
- Round-robin format within each group
- Each team plays 4 matches
- Top 2 teams from each group qualify for Super Eight
- Total: 40 group stage matches
Stage 2: Super Eight (February 21 - March 1)
- 8 qualified teams split into 2 groups of 4
- Round-robin format within each Super Eight group
- Top 2 teams from each group advance to semi-finals
- Total: 12 Super Eight matches
Stage 3: Knockout Stage (March 4-8)
- Semi-final 1: March 4
- Semi-final 2: March 5
- Final: March 8
T20 World Cup 2026 Venues
The tournament will be played across 8 venues – 5 in India and 3 in Sri Lanka:
India Venues (5)
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narendra Modi Stadium | Ahmedabad | 132,000 | Final, Group matches |
| Wankhede Stadium | Mumbai | 33,000 | Opening match, Semi-final 2 |
| Eden Gardens | Kolkata | 68,000 | Super Eight matches |
| MA Chidambaram Stadium | Chennai | 50,000 | Group & Super Eight matches |
| Arun Jaitley Stadium | New Delhi | 41,000 | Group matches |
Sri Lanka Venues (3)
| Stadium | City | Capacity | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| R. Premadasa Stadium | Colombo | 35,000 | India vs Pakistan, Semi-final 1 |
| Sinhalese Sports Club Ground | Colombo | 15,000 | Group matches |
| Pallekele International Stadium | Kandy | 35,000 | Group matches |
T20 World Cup 2026 Complete Schedule
Opening Day - February 7, 2026
| Match | Teams | Venue | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Pakistan vs Netherlands | Colombo | 10:30 AM |
| Match 2 | India vs USA | Mumbai (Wankhede) | 7:30 PM |
Group Stage Key Matches
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | India vs USA | Mumbai |
| Feb 7 | Pakistan vs Netherlands | Colombo |
| Feb 8 | Australia vs Oman | TBD |
| Feb 8 | England vs Italy | TBD |
| Feb 9 | South Africa vs UAE | TBD |
| Feb 12 | India vs Namibia | New Delhi |
| Feb 15 | India vs Pakistan | Colombo |
| Feb 18 | India vs Netherlands | Ahmedabad |
Super Eight Stage (February 21 - March 1)
Qualified teams will be divided into two groups based on pre-tournament seedings. Matches will be played in Chennai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Colombo.
Knockout Stage
| Stage | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-final 1 | March 4, 2026 | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Semi-final 2 | March 5, 2026 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Final | March 8, 2026 | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad* |
*If Pakistan qualifies for the final, the venue will be shifted to R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
India's Complete Schedule in T20 World Cup 2026
Here is Team India's complete schedule for the group stage:
| Date | Match | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 7 | Match 1 | USA | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Feb 12 | Match 2 | Namibia | Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi |
| Feb 15 | Match 3 | Pakistan | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Feb 18 | Match 4 | Netherlands | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
India's Super Eight Venues (If Qualified)
If India qualifies for the Super Eight stage, their matches will be played at:
- Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
- Eden Gardens, Kolkata
India vs Pakistan: The Big Clash
The most anticipated match of the tournament – India vs Pakistan – is scheduled for:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | February 15, 2026 |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Stage | Group A |
Why is India vs Pakistan in Sri Lanka?
As per the agreement between BCCI and PCB, all of Pakistan's matches in this tournament will be played in Sri Lanka. This includes the India vs Pakistan group stage match in Colombo. If Pakistan qualifies for the semi-finals or final, those matches will also be relocated to Colombo.
Rohit Sharma: T20 World Cup 2026 Brand Ambassador
Rohit Sharma has been announced as the official brand ambassador for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. This was announced by ICC Chairman Jay Shah during the schedule release event.
Why Rohit Sharma?
- Led India to their second T20 World Cup title in 2024
- Most capped player in T20 World Cup history (47 matches)
- One of only two players with over 1,200 runs in T20 World Cups (1,220 runs)
- Part of two T20 World Cup winning campaigns (2007 and 2024)
- First active cricketer to be named brand ambassador for a World Cup
Rohit said: "It is great to have the tournament back in India and for me to be associated once again with the tournament, this time in a new capacity as the Brand Ambassador."
T20 World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams
Direct Qualifiers (12 teams)
| Team | Qualification Method |
|---|---|
| India | Co-host |
| Sri Lanka | Co-host |
| Australia | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| England | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| South Africa | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| West Indies | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| Afghanistan | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| Bangladesh | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| USA | T20 World Cup 2024 Top 7 |
| New Zealand | T20I Rankings |
| Pakistan | T20I Rankings |
| Ireland | T20I Rankings |
Regional Qualifiers (8 teams)
| Team | Qualification Region |
|---|---|
| Netherlands | Europe Qualifier |
| Italy | Europe Qualifier (First ever World Cup) |
| Canada | Americas Qualifier |
| Zimbabwe | Africa Qualifier |
| Namibia | Africa Qualifier |
| Oman | Asia Qualifier |
| Nepal | Asia Qualifier |
| UAE | Asia Qualifier |
Historic First: Italy has qualified for a cricket World Cup for the first time ever!
T20 World Cup 2026 vs 2024: What's Different?
| Aspect | T20 World Cup 2024 | T20 World Cup 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Host | USA & West Indies | India & Sri Lanka |
| Teams | 20 | 20 |
| Format | Group + Super 8 + Knockouts | Group + Super 8 + Knockouts |
| Duration | June 2024 | Feb-March 2026 |
| Venues | 9 | 8 |
| Final Venue | Barbados | Ahmedabad (or Colombo) |
| Winner | India | TBD |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When is T20 World Cup 2026?
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 will be held from February 7 to March 8, 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Where will the T20 World Cup 2026 final be held?
The final is scheduled to be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on March 8, 2026. However, if Pakistan qualifies for the final, the venue will be shifted to R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
When is India vs Pakistan in T20 World Cup 2026?
India will face Pakistan on February 15, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo during the Group A stage.
How many teams are participating in T20 World Cup 2026?
20 teams are participating in the tournament, divided into 4 groups of 5 teams each.
Who is the brand ambassador for T20 World Cup 2026?
Rohit Sharma, the captain who led India to victory in T20 World Cup 2024, has been named the official brand ambassador for the tournament.
Which venues are hosting T20 World Cup 2026 in India?
Five venues in India will host matches: Narendra Modi Stadium (Ahmedabad), Wankhede Stadium (Mumbai), Eden Gardens (Kolkata), MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chennai), and Arun Jaitley Stadium (New Delhi).
Which venues are hosting T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka?
Three venues in Sri Lanka will host matches: R. Premadasa Stadium (Colombo), Sinhalese Sports Club Ground (Colombo), and Pallekele International Cricket Stadium (Kandy).
What is the format of T20 World Cup 2026?
The tournament follows a three-stage format: Group Stage (4 groups of 5 teams, round-robin), Super Eight (2 groups of 4 teams), and Knockout Stage (2 semi-finals + final).
Why are Pakistan's matches only in Sri Lanka?
As per the agreement between BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board), all of Pakistan's matches in this tournament will be played in Sri Lanka due to the neutral venue arrangement.
Which team made their World Cup debut in 2026?
Italy has qualified for a cricket World Cup for the first time ever, making their debut in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
When is India's first match in T20 World Cup 2026?
India's first match is against USA on February 7, 2026, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. This is also the opening match of the tournament.
Who won the last T20 World Cup?
India won the T20 World Cup 2024, defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados. They will be the defending champions in 2026.
Conclusion
The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 promises to be an exciting tournament with defending champions India playing on home soil alongside co-hosts Sri Lanka. With blockbuster matches like India vs Pakistan on February 15, the return of the tournament to the subcontinent, and first-time qualifiers like Italy, cricket fans have plenty to look forward to.
Mark your calendars for February 7, 2026, when India takes on USA in Mumbai to kick off what promises to be a spectacular cricketing spectacle!