The ICC has released the full 2026 T20 World Cup schedule, with India opening against USA on February 7 in Mumbai. Full fixtures, groups, venues, Super 8 schedule, and knockout details inside.
2026 T20 World Cup Schedule Announced: India to Face USA in Tournament Opener
The 2026 T20 World Cup schedule has officially been released by the ICC, confirming that defending champions India will begin their campaign against the USA on February 7 in Mumbai. Earlier that same day, Pakistan will meet the Netherlands in Colombo, marking the first match of the global event. A high-profile West Indies vs Bangladesh contest in Kolkata completes the action-packed opening day.
The tournament will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, featuring 20 teams divided into four groups. Multiple venues across both nations will stage matches, with flexibility built into the knockout schedule due to logistical agreements involving India and Pakistan.
Full Breakdown of the 2026 T20 World Cup Schedule – Group Stage Matches
The group stage of the 2026 T20 World Cup schedule features four competitive pools:
Group A – India, Pakistan, Namibia, Netherlands, USA
Group A includes two heavyweights—India and Pakistan—alongside Netherlands, Namibia and USA. India’s opening clash against USA on February 7 headlines the early fixtures. The much-awaited India vs Pakistan showdown will take place on February 15 in Colombo.
Group A Key Fixtures：
- Feb 7：Pakistan vs Netherlands – Colombo, 11:00 AM
- Feb 7：India vs USA – Mumbai, 7:00 PM
- Feb 15：India vs Pakistan – Colombo (RPS), 7:00 PM
Group B – Sri Lanka, Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Oman
Hosts Sri Lanka find themselves in a challenging group alongside Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. Sri Lanka open their campaign against Ireland on February 8.
Highlighted Matches：
- Feb 8：Sri Lanka vs Ireland – Colombo
- Feb 11：Australia vs Ireland – Colombo
- Feb 16：Australia vs Sri Lanka – Kandy
Group C – England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Nepal, Italy
This group includes two-time champions England and West Indies, along with a dangerous Bangladesh side. Italy make their historic World Cup debut.
Key Fixtures：
- Feb 7：West Indies vs Bangladesh – Kolkata
- Feb 11：England vs West Indies – Mumbai
- Feb 16：England vs Italy – Kolkata
Group D – South Africa, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Canada, UAE
The so-called “group of death” features South Africa, Afghanistan and New Zealand. Afghanistan reached the semifinal in 2024 and remain a threat.
Highlighted Matches：
- Feb 8：New Zealand vs Afghanistan – Chennai
- Feb 11：South Africa vs Afghanistan – Ahmedabad
- Feb 14：New Zealand vs South Africa – Ahmedabad
Super Eight & Knockout Stage in the 2026 T20 World Cup Schedule
The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Eight, which is split into two groups (X & Y). The ICC has provided venue flexibility depending on whether India or Pakistan qualify for semifinals, to respect cross-border hosting agreements.
Super Eight Sample Key Fixtures：
- Feb 21：Y2 vs Y3 – Colombo (RPS)
- Feb 22：Y1 vs Y4 – Kandy
- Feb 23：X2 vs X3 – Mumbai
- Feb 26：X1 vs X2 – Chennai
Semifinals & Final：
- March 4：1st Semi-Final – Kolkata or Colombo
- March 5：2nd Semi-Final – Mumbai
- March 8：Final – Ahmedabad or Colombo
Venue selection depends on India or Pakistan’s qualification status.
Seeds for Super Eight (Based on ICC Rankings)
According to ICC rankings (July 25, 2025):
Seeded Teams：
- India (X1)
- Australia (X2)
- West Indies (X3)
- South Africa (X4)
- England (Y1)
- New Zealand (Y2)
- Pakistan (Y3)
- Sri Lanka (Y4)
If any seeded team fails to reach Super Eight, they will be replaced by qualifiers from their group.
