T20 World Cup 2026 schedule announced, check when India will face Pakistan

The International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced the schedule for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. The tournament will begin on February 7, while the final will be played on March 8. India have been placed in a group featuring Pakistan, USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. India will face arch-rival Pakistan on February 15 in Colombo, and it will be the first meeting between these two after the three clashes in the Asia Cup. 

The defending champions will open their campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai, followed by their clash against Namibia on February 12 in Delhi. The high-octane India-Pakistan clash will take place on February 15 in Colombo before the Suryakumar Yadav-led team complete their league stage against the Netherlands on February 18 in Ahmedabad.

As per the groups revealed by the ICC, India, Pakistan, Namibia, the USA and the Netherlands are in the same group. Bangladesh, Italy, England, Nepal and the West Indies are in the same group. Australia, Ireland, Oman, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe form the other group. The final group features Afghanistan, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UAE.

The tournament will take place at five venues in India - the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Three venues in Sri Lanka will host the global event, with the R Premadasa Stadium and the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo and the Palleke Stadium in Kandy hosting the tournament.

The World Cup will feature 20 teams competing for the coveted trophy, divided into four groups of five teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Eight, followed by the semifinals and the final. 

As per the schedule, the World Cup will begin on February 7 with the final on March 8.

If India make it to the Super Eight from the group stage, their three Super Eight matches will be played in Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Kolkata. If India are into the semifinals, their semi-final will be in Mumbai. Meanwhile, the ICC has shortlisted Colombo or Kolkata as the other semi-final venue if Sri Lanka and Pakistan reach the last four. The final will be played in Ahmedabad if Pakistan are not there, or else it is likely to be played in Colombo.

List of teams to have qualified for T20 World Cup 2026

All 20 teams for the World Cup have been confirmed. Apart from the hosts India and Sri Lanka, the top seven teams - Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, the United States of America and the West Indies - from the T20 World Cup 2024 confirmed their spots for the 2026 tournament. 

Meanwhile, New Zealand, Pakistan and Ireland booked their spots on the basis of T20I rankings. Italy and the Netherlands qualified from a tournament in Europe, while Canada booked their place from the Americas Qualifier. Namibia and Zimbabwe booked their spots from the Africa qualifier, while Nepal, Oman and UAE came from the Asia-EP round to make the tournament a 20-team one.

20 Teams At Men's T20 World Cup 2026

Apart from hosts India and Sri Lanka, the other 18 teams participating in the T20 World Cup are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, United States of America, West Indies, New Zealand, Pakistan, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nepal, Oman and UAE

Format For Men's T20 World Cup 2026 

A total of 40 group matches will be played between February 7-20, with the top two sides from each group then progressing to the Super Eights phase of the tournament that commences on February 21.

The top four sides at the completion of the Super Eights qualify for the knockout stages of the event, with semi-finals to be held in Kolkata/Colombo and Mumbai ahead of the title decider on March 8 in Ahmedabad/Colombo.

T20 World Cup 2026 Groups 

Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE 

Full Schedule For Men's T20 World Cup 2026

7 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: PAK vs NED – SSC Colombo

3:00 PM: WI vs BAN – Kolkata

7:00 PM: IND vs USA – Mumbai

8 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: NZ vs AFG – Chennai

3:00 PM: ENG vs NEP – Mumbai

7:00 PM: SL vs IRE – Premadasa Colombo

9 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: BAN vs ITA – Kolkata

3:00 PM: ZIM vs OMA – SSC Colombo

7:00 PM: SA vs CAN – Ahmedabad

10 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: NED vs NAM – Delhi

3:00 PM: NZ vs UAE – Chennai

7:00 PM: PAK vs USA – SSC Colombo

11 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: SA vs AFG – Ahmedabad

3:00 PM: AUS vs IRE – Premadasa Colombo

7:00 PM: ENG vs WI – Mumbai

12 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: SL vs OMA – Kandy

3:00 PM: NEP vs ITA – Mumbai

7:00 PM: IND vs NAM – Delhi

13 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: AUS vs ZIM – Premadasa Colombo

3:00 PM: CAN vs UAE – Delhi

7:00 PM: USA vs NED – Chennai

14 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: IRE vs OMA – SSC Colombo

3:00 PM: ENG vs BAN – Kolkata

7:00 PM: NZ vs SA – Ahmedabad

15 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: WI vs NEP – Mumbai

3:00 PM: USA vs NAM – Chennai

7:00 PM: IND vs PAK – Premadasa Colombo

16 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: AFG vs UAE – Delhi

3:00 PM: ENG vs ITA – Kolkata

7:00 PM: AUS vs SL – Kandy

17 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: NZ vs CAN – Chennai

3:00 PM: IRE vs ZIM – Kandy

7:00 PM: BAN vs NEP – Mumbai

18 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: SA vs UAE – Delhi

3:00 PM: PAK vs NAM – SSC Colombo

7:00 PM: IND vs NED – Ahmedabad

19 Feb 2026

11:00 AM: WI vs ITA – Kolkata

3:00 PM: SL vs ZIM – Premadasa Colombo

7:00 PM: AFG vs CAN – Chennai

SUPER 8 / GROUPS X & Y
20 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: AUS vs OMA – Kandy

21 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: Y2 vs Y3 – Premadasa Colombo

22 Feb 2026

3:00 PM: Y1 vs Y4 – Kandy

7:00 PM: X1 vs X4 – Ahmedabad

23 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: X2 vs X3 – Mumbai

24 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: Y1 vs Y3 – Kandy

25 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: Y2 vs Y4 – Premadasa Colombo

26 Feb 2026

3:00 PM: X3 vs X4 – Ahmedabad

7:00 PM: X1 vs X2 – Chennai

27 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: Y1 vs Y2 – Premadasa Colombo

28 Feb 2026

7:00 PM: Y3 vs Y4 – Kandy

1 March 2026

3:00 PM: X2 vs X4 – Delhi

7:00 PM: X1 vs X3 – Kolkata

Semi-Finals
4 March 2026

7:00 PM: SF1 – Kolkata

7:00 PM: SF1 – Premadasa Colombo

5 March 2026

7:00 PM: SF2 – Mumbai

Final – 8 March 2026

7:00 PM: FINAL – Premadasa Colombo

7:00 PM: FINAL – Ahmedabad