Italy made history on Friday by securing their maiden qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Despite losing to the Netherlands by nine wickets at The Hague, Italy progressed to the global tournament due to their superior net run rate, capping off a dramatic final day in the Europe Qualifiers.
Along with Italy, the Netherlands also booked their place in the 2026 T20 World Cup. Chasing a target of 135, the Dutch side delivered a dominant performance, reaching the target in just 16.2 overs with nine wickets in hand. Michael Levitt and Max O’Dowd added 81 runs for the opening stand before Levitt fell for 34 off 25 balls. Skipper Scott Edwards then joined O’Dowd to finish the chase comfortably, putting together an unbeaten 64-run partnership for the second wicket.
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The final day of the qualifiers was filled with high-stakes matches, as all four competing teams—Italy, Netherlands, Scotland, and Jersey—had a chance to qualify. Scotland, who had played in the last four editions of the T20 World Cup, saw their hopes dashed earlier in the day. In a must-win match, they suffered a heartbreaking last-ball defeat against Jersey, who successfully chased a 134-run target to win by one wicket.
Despite their victory, Jersey failed to qualify for the World Cup due to Italy’s superior net run rate. Both teams finished with five points, but Italy’s more consistent performances across the tournament gave them the edge. To maintain their advantage, Italy only needed to avoid a heavy loss to the Netherlands, which they managed by stretching the match to over 16 overs in the second innings.
Earlier in the day, Italy chose to bat first but had a shaky start, losing openers Justin Mosca and Emilio Gay in the first three overs. Captain Joe Burns struck a quick 22 before falling in the seventh over, leaving Italy at 41/3. The situation worsened with the dismissal of wicketkeeper Marcus Campopiano at 46/4. However, a crucial 30 off 27 balls from Benjamin Manenti and a 25-run knock from Grant Stewart helped Italy post a respectable 134/7, scoring 33 runs in the final three overs.
With the conclusion of the Europe Qualifier, 15 teams have now secured their places for the 2026 T20 World Cup. The remaining five spots will be decided through regional qualifiers, with three teams advancing from the Asia-East Asia Pacific (EAP) region and two from Africa.
| Team | Qualification Basis |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Australia | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Bangladesh | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Canada | Americas Regional Final winner |
| England | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| India | Host nation |
| Ireland | Top T20I rankings (not qualified otherwise) |
| New Zealand | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Pakistan | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| South Africa | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Sri Lanka | Host nation |
| USA | Americas Regional Final participant |
| West Indies | Top 7 from 2024 T20 World Cup (excl. hosts) |
| Italy | Europe Qualifier (net run rate) |
| Netherlands | Europe Qualifier (top table) |
The list of teams already qualified for T20 World Cup 2026 in India includes Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, India (Co-host), Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka (Co-host), USA, and West Indies.
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