2026 Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup

2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup
Dates15 January – 6 February 2026
AdministratorInternational Cricket Council
Cricket formatLimited-overs (50 overs)
Tournament format(s)Group stage, Super 6s and Knockout stage
Hosts
  • Zimbabwe
  • Namibia
Participants16
Matches41
Official websiteOfficial website

The 2026 ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup will be an international limited-overs cricket tournament organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC), which will be held in Zimbabwe and Namibia in early 2026.[1][2][3] It will be the sixteenth edition of the Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup. Australia are the defending champions.[4] Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) acquired the television rights while Myco secured the digital rights for the U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 in Pakistan. JioHotstar and Star Sports retain the broadcasting rights for all ICC events in India through 2027.[5]

Qualification

The top ten teams from the previous tournament qualified automatically, along with host Zimbabwe and the five winners of regional qualification tournaments.

The regional qualification tournaments were held from 25 February 2024 to 16 August 2025.[1][6] The other five places in the tournament were awarded to the winners of the five regional under-19 tournaments.[7][8]

List of teams qualified for the 2026 Under-19 Cricket World Cup
Method of qualification Date of qualification Venues No. of teams Teams
Full Member host[a] 13 November 2022
1
 Zimbabwe
2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup
(Top 10 teams from previous tournament)
3 February 2024 South Africa
10
 Australia
 Bangladesh
 England
 India
 Ireland
 Pakistan
 New Zealand
 Sri Lanka
 South Africa
 West Indies
Africa Qualifier 6 April 2025 Nigeria
1
 Tanzania
Asia Qualifier 19 April 2025   Nepal
1
 Afghanistan
East Asia-Pacific Qualifier 29 April 2025 Japan
1
 Japan
Europe Qualifier 6 August 2025 Scotland
1
 Scotland
Americas Qualifier 16 August 2025 United States
1
 United States
Total 16

Squads

Each team selected a squad of fifteen players for the tournament, excluding reserves, with Ireland being the first team to name their squad on 1 December 2025.[9] South Africa announced their squad on 5 December 2025.[10] Zimbabwe announced their squad on 9 December 2025.[11] Japan announced their squad on 10 December 2025.[12] Scotland announced their squad on 10 December 2025.[13] Australia announced their squad on 11 December 2025.[14] West Indies announced their squad on 17 December 2025.[15] Pakistan announced their squad on 18 December 2025.[16] New Zealand announced their squad on 20 December 2025.[17]

Format

16 teams will be divided into four groups. The top three teams from each group advance to the Super Six stage. The fourth-placed teams in Group A and D face each other while the fourth-placed teams in Group B and C face each other in the placement stage.

In the super-six stage the top three teams from Group A and D are combined in a group with the top three teams from Group B and C combined in another group. Each team carries forward the number of points, wins, and net run rate they have earned against other super-six qualifying teams and will then play two matches in the super-six stage against the opponent from the corresponding group that finished in a different group stage position (i.e. the A1 team plays only D2 and D3 in the super-six. Similarly, A2 plays only D1 and D3 and so forth).

The top two teams from each group in the super-six stage will qualify for the semi-finals.

Venues

In November 2025, the ICC unveiled the list of venues for the tournament, with Zimbabwe set to host 25 matches including both Semi-finals and the Final, while Namibia will host the remaining 16 fixtures.[18]

Warm-up matches

The ICC announced the warm-up fixtures along with the complete tournament schedule on 19 November 2025.[19]

Group stage

The ICC announced the groups and fixtures on 19 November 2025, with the group stage, comprising 24 matches, scheduled to be played from 15 to 24 January 2026.[18]

Group A

Points table
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1  Bangladesh 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the Super 6
2  India 0 0 0 0 0
3  New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0
4  United States 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures

17 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v




Group B

Points table
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1  England 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the Super 6
2  Pakistan 0 0 0 0 0
3  Scotland 0 0 0 0 0
4  Zimbabwe 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures





Group C

Points table
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the Super 6
2  Ireland 0 0 0 0 0
3  Japan 0 0 0 0 0
4  Sri Lanka 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 16 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures





Group D

Points table
Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1  Afghanistan 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the Super 6
2  South Africa 0 0 0 0 0
3  Tanzania 0 0 0 0 0
4  West Indies 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 15 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures
15 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

16 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

18 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

19 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

21 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

22 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
v
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

Super 6

Teams will face each other in diagonally form in Super 6, means A1 will face D2 and D3, A2 will face D1 and D3, A3 will face D1 and D2.

Group 1

Points table

Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1 A1 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the semi-finals
2 A2 0 0 0 0 0
3 A3 0 0 0 0 0
4 D1 0 0 0 0 0
5 D2 0 0 0 0 0
6 D3 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 25 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures
25 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
A1
v
D3

25 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
D2
v
A3
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

26 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
D1
v
A2

28 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
A1
v
D2

29 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
D3
v
A2

30 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
D1
v
A3

Group 2

Points table

Pos Team Pld W L NR Pts NRR Qualification
1 B1 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to the semi-finals
2 B2 0 0 0 0 0
3 B3 0 0 0 0 0
4 C1 0 0 0 0 0
5 C2 0 0 0 0 0
6 C3 0 0 0 0 0
First match(es) will be played: 26 January 2026. Source:
Fixtures
26 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
C1
v
B2

27 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
C2
v
B3

27 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
C3
v
B1

30 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
B3
v
C1

31 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
B2
v
C3

1 February 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
B1
v
C2

13th to 16th Place play-offs

24 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
A4
v
D4
High Performance Oval, Windhoek

26 January 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
B4
v
C4

Knockout Stage

Bracket

Semi-final Final
      
A1 Winner of Group 1
B2 Runner-up of Group 2
SFW1 Winner of Semi-final 1
SFW2 Winner of Semi-final 2
B1 Winner of Group 2
A2 Runner-up of Group 1

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1
3 February 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
Winner of Group 1
v
Runner-up of Group 2

Semi-final 2
4 February 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
Winner of Group 2
v
Runner-up of Group 1

Final

Final
6 February 2026
09:30 UTC+2
Scorecard
TBD
v
TBD

Notes

  1. ^ Only full-member host nations secured automatic qualification for this Under-19 World Cup. Namibia despite co-hosting the tournament, had to play the qualifiers.

References

  1. ^ a b "ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup is back after 14-day break". International Cricket Council. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  2. ^ "Four Associates to host Under-19 World Cups". Emerging Cricket. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  3. ^ "ICC U19 World Cup 2026: Host, Qualification, Venues And Schedule". Sportsganga. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
  4. ^ "IND vs AUS Highlights, U-19 World Cup 2024 Final: Australia beats India by 79 runs, lifts fourth title". SportStar. Retrieved 11 February 2024.
  5. ^ "U19 Cricket World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Details". touchcrictv.com. 27 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Cricket Thailand to host 2026 U19 Men's CWC Division 2 Asia Qualifier in February/March 2024". Czarsports Auto. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
  7. ^ "U19 Men's Cricket World Cup: Line-up locked in for 2026 edition". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  8. ^ "USA, Tanzania, Japan among 16 teams to qualify for 2026 U-19 men's World Cup". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 August 2025.
  9. ^ "U19s squad named". Cricket Ireland. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Bulbulia to lead Junior Proteas in ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 5 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Zimbabwe name squad for ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026". Zimbabwe Cricket. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Under 19 World Cup Squad Announced". Japan Cricket Association. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  13. ^ "Scotland Men's U19 squad confirmed for World Cup". Cricket Scotland. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  14. ^ "Peake to lead Aussies' title defence at U19 World Cup". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 11 December 2025.
  15. ^ "West Indies name squad for ICC Men's U19 Cricket World Cup 2026". Cricket West Indies. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Pakistan squad for U19 tri-series and ICC U19 World Cup announced". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Rising Domestic Stars Set for U19 World Cup". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 20 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b "Schedule for U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2026 unveiled". International Cricket Council. 19 November 2025. Retrieved 19 November 2025.
  19. ^ "ICC U19 Men's Cricket World Cup schedule announced". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 21 November 2025.