The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday announced the official schedule for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia from January 15 to February 6, 2026. The tournament will feature 16 teams competing in 41 matches, with the final scheduled to take place at the Harare Sports Club.
The opening day will witness defending champions India playing the USA, hosts Zimbabwe facing Scotland, and Tanzania making their historic debut against the West Indies. Matches will be held across five venues: Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club, and Queens Sports Club in Zimbabwe, as well as the Namibia Cricket Ground and HP Oval in Namibia.
According to the ICC, the event will follow a format consisting of four groups of four teams. The top sides will progress to the Super Six stage, which precedes the semi-finals and the championship match in Harare. The structure is designed to offer emerging teams more exposure while ensuring competitive progression for traditional powerhouses.
Australia, the reigning champions, will open their title defence against Ireland on January 16 in Windhoek. A major early highlight will be the high-intensity clash between India and Bangladesh on January 17 in Bulawayo. Pakistan will begin their campaign the same day, taking on England in what is expected to be a closely watched contest.
Ten teams secured direct qualification for the 2026 edition based on their performance in the 2024 tournament. They are joined by hosts Zimbabwe, while the remaining five teams earned their spots through regional qualifiers, highlighting the ICC’s efforts to broaden cricket’s global youth development pathway.
The ICC said the expanded representation underscores the growing competitiveness of the U19 platform, which continues to serve as a key pipeline for future international stars.
