The ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 will be the 16th edition of the tournament. It will take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia in early 2026. A total of 16 teams will compete, divided into four groups of four.
The tournament will run from January 15 to February 6, 2026. India will open their campaign against the USA on the first day, although India won’t face Pakistan in the group stage.
Host Zimbabwe automatically qualifies, alongside the top ten teams from the previous U19 World Cup and five winners of regional qualification tournaments held between February 2024 and August 2025. Get the information on all 16 qualified teams and their method of qualification below.
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Group
All 16 teams are divided into 4 groups of 4 teams each. India is in Group A, while defending champion Australia is in Group C.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | India | Zimbabwe | Tanzania |
| Ireland | Bangladesh | Pakistan | West Indies |
| Japan | USA | England | Afghanistan |
| Sri Lanka | New Zealand | Scotland | South Africa |
ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Qualified Teams
A total of 16 teams have qualified through different qualification modes.
| Method of Qualification | Date of Qualification | No. of Teams | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host Nation | 13 November 2022 | 1 | Zimbabwe |
| 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup (Top 10 teams) | 3 February 2024 | 10 | Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies |
| Africa Qualifier | 6 April 2025 | 1 | Tanzania |
| Asia Qualifier | 19 April 2025 | 1 | Afghanistan |
| East Asia-Pacific Qualifier | 29 April 2025 | 1 | Japan |
| Europe Qualifier | 6 August 2025 | 1 | Scotland |
| Americas Qualifier | 16 August 2025 | 1 | United States |
| Total Teams | 16 |
Host Nation Qualification
Zimbabwe qualified automatically as the host nation of the ICC U19 World Cup 2026. Their spot was confirmed on 13 November 2022. As the host country, Zimbabwe did not need to play any qualifying matches.
Qualification From The 2024 Under-19 Cricket World Cup
The top 10 teams from the 2024 U19 Cricket World Cup earned direct qualification for the 2026 edition. Their qualification date was 3 February 2024.
These 10 teams are: Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies
These sides qualified based on their strong performance in the previous U19 World Cup.
Africa Qualifier: Tanzania
Tanzania secured its place in the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 by winning the Africa regional qualifier on 6 April 2025. Their strong performance throughout the tournament helped them top the region and earn the single qualifying spot available for Africa.
Asia Qualifier: Afghanistan
Afghanistan qualified for the tournament on 19 April 2025 after finishing first in the Asia regional qualifier. Their consistent showing and solid team effort earned them the only spot available from the Asian region.
East Asia-Pacific Qualifier: Japan
Japan qualified on 29 April 2025 by winning the East Asia-Pacific regional event. Being the non-defetable throughout the competition, Japan emerged as the best team in the region and secured their place in the World Cup.
Europe Qualifier: Scotland
Scotland booked their ticket to the 2026 U19 World Cup on 6 August 2025 by finishing as the top team in the Europe regional qualifier. They won all 5 matches and topped the points table with 10 points, qualifying for the World Cup.
Americas Qualifier: United States
The United States qualified on 16 August 2025 after winning the Americas regional qualifier. By outperforming other teams in their region, the USA claimed the sole qualification spot and secured their place in the upcoming U19 World Cup.
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Conclusion: The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Will Start From January 16
With all 16 teams confirmed, the ICC U19 World Cup 2026 is set to begin in Zimbabwe and Namibia on January 15, 2026. Each team has earned its place through strong play or successful qualification, and the group stage is expected to be competitive. As Australia won the previous edition, will they be able to defend the title?
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