The wait is finally over for cricket fans worldwide. ICC is announcing the T20 World Cup 2026 schedule group details completely. India and Sri Lanka will host this massive tournament from February 7 onwards. The action runs until March 8 with 55 matches scheduled throughout. Twenty teams will battle for glory across eight fantastic venues in total.
How the Group Stage Works
The T20 World Cup 2026 follows a schedule with a smart format for maximum excitement. Twenty teams were divided into four groups, each with five teams. Every team plays against others during the first stage.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
| India | Australia | Bangladesh | Afghanistan |
| Pakistan | Ireland | England | Canada |
| Namibia | Oman | Italy | New Zealand |
| Netherlands | Sri Lanka | Nepal | South Africa |
| United States | Zimbabwe | West Indies | United Arab Emirates |
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Eight stages. That’s when things get really interesting for fans watching everywhere. Teams play round-robin matches within the Super Eight formations carefully.
Then the knockout stages begin with two thrilling semifinals accordingly. The grand final happens on March 8 at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. India’s five host cities are Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, and Mumbai.
Sri Lanka will use three venues with matches in Colombo and Kandy. The T20 World Cup looks balanced across both countries.
Pakistan’s Special Venue Arrangement
Here’s something unique about the tournament. Pakistan will play all their matches in Sri Lanka only. This arrangement follows the BCCI agreement about neutral venues for tournaments.
If Pakistan reaches the final somehow, that match will happen in Sri Lanka. These special arrangements ensure everyone participates without political complications arising unnecessarily.
Teams That Made the Cut
Seven teams qualified automatically from the 2024 T20 World Cup already. Three more teams earned spots based on their T20I rankings worldwide. Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands won their respective regional qualifiers impressively.
Other teams from mixed regions ended the 20-team lineup perfectly. The T20 World Cup 2026 schedule includes thrilling fixtures like India vs Ireland. Pakistan vs New Zealand is sure to be another thriller.
Teams are eagerly waiting for complete group announcements from the ICC officially. The tournament format promises non-stop action for cricket lovers everywhere.
