Dublin: Despite being eliminated from this year’s T20 group competition, the Ireland cricket team has secured a spot in the next T20 World Cup. This qualification will allow the team to start early preparations for the 2026 tournament.
The 2026 T20 Cricket World Cup will be jointly hosted by Sri Lanka and India. Ireland was one of the first 12 teams to qualify for the tournament. This list was announced alongside the six teams that reached the ‘Super-Eight’ stage of the 2024 World Cup last month: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and West Indies.
In an unexpected twist, the USA’s inclusion of Pakistan in their group ensured spots for Pakistan, New Zealand, and Ireland. Ireland secured the 11th spot in the final qualifying table.
Ireland’s path to the tournament was confirmed through regional qualifiers, much like the 2024 World Cup. As a result, Ireland will now focus on competing against Scotland and the Netherlands in the European qualifiers.
The 2026 World Cup will feature 55 matches, maintaining the same format as this year. There will be four groups of five teams, followed by two Super Eight groups, two semi-finals, and the final. Ireland’s early qualification provides a significant opportunity for the team to strategize and prepare effectively for the upcoming tournament.