The 2026 T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in India and Sri Lanka, has finalized its automatic qualification spots. While hosts India and Sri Lanka secured the first two spots, the remaining automatic qualification was determined by the performance in the recently concluded T20 World Cup.
Australia, England, South Africa, West Indies, USA, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan secured their spots by qualifying for the Super Eight stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup. This left three automatic qualification spots open.
Based on the ICC T20I Team Rankings, New Zealand, Pakistan, and Ireland, despite not reaching the Super Eight stage, clinched the remaining qualification spots. These teams occupied the highest rankings among those who hadn’t already qualified for the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 T20 World Cup will feature a total of 20 teams. The remaining eight spots will be decided through regional qualifiers, ensuring a diverse representation of cricketing nations in the tournament.
