Womens T20 World Cup Kicks Off on June 12 with 12 Teams Competing

New Delhi, June 8: Ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, ICC Chairman Jay Shah has extended his best wishes to all 12 participating teams. The tournament will commence on June 12 in England and Wales, with the final match scheduled for July 5.

In a statement on the social media platform ‘X’, Shah emphasized the significance of this event, stating, “Wishing all 12 teams the very best for the biggest ICC Women’s T20 World Cup yet. With record-breaking attendance at renowned venues in England and Wales, along with the largest global broadcasting for a women’s event, we are set for a memorable tournament that will unite millions of fans and top athletes worldwide.”

This edition marks the 10th iteration of the Women’s T20 World Cup, which began in England in 2009. A total of 33 matches will be held across seven venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, Edgbaston, County Ground Bristol, Edgbaston, The Oval, and Lord’s.

Host nation England aims to replicate its success from the inaugural Women’s T20 World Cup. In 2009, under the captaincy of Charlotte Edwards, England secured its first title, and Edwards now serves as the team’s head coach. The team draws inspiration from its memorable victory in the Women’s ODI World Cup at home in 2017.

Defending champions New Zealand will enter the tournament as title holders, having won their first Women’s T20 World Cup in 2024 in the UAE. The ‘White Ferns’ are only the fourth team to win the trophy since the tournament’s inception. England, New Zealand, and the West Indies have each claimed the title once, while Australia has dominated the competition with six championships.

This tournament will feature a record 12 teams. England has automatically qualified as the host, while Australia, India, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the West Indies secured direct entries based on ICC rankings. Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and the Netherlands earned their spots through the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, with the Netherlands set to play in its first Women’s T20 World Cup.

The teams are divided into two groups. Group A includes Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, Pakistan, South Africa, and India. Group B consists of England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. Each team will play five matches in the group stage, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the semifinals, scheduled for June 30 and July 2 at The Oval. The final will take place on July 5 at Lord’s.