Dubai [UAE], July 31: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced that Nepal will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, scheduled to take place from January 12 to February 2, 2026. This marks a significant milestone for Nepalese cricket, providing a major boost to the sport in the region.
Ten teams will compete in the Qualifier for four coveted spots in the main event, the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be held in England and Wales.
Automatic qualifiers for the tournament in Nepal include:
- Bangladesh and Ireland, by virtue of their participation in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
- Thailand and Nepal, who qualified through the Asia regional pathway.
- The USA, who secured their place from the Americas region.
The remaining five spots in the Qualifier will be filled by two teams each from Africa and Europe, and one from the East Asia-Pacific region, following the completion of their respective regional Qualifiers.
The tournament in Nepal will see the 10 teams divided into two groups of five, followed by a Super Six stage, and culminating in a Final match. The full fixture list for the Qualifier will be announced by the ICC in due course. The matches will be played across two venues in Mulpani, Kathmandu: the Lower Mulpani Cricket Stadium and the Upper Mulpani Cricket Stadium.
Meanwhile, the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England and Wales has already been confirmed. The marquee tournament will run from June 12 to July 5, 2026, featuring 33 matches played across 24 days at seven venues. These venues include Old Trafford, Headingley, the Hampshire Bowl, Bristol County Ground, Edgbaston, and The Oval, with the grand finale set to be held at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.