Nepal to host Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifiers

Nepal will host the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, the ICC confirmed on Wednesday. The tournament will take place in Kathmandu from January 12 to February 2, 2026, across two venues—Lower Mulpani and Upper Mulpani. Over 21 days, 10 teams will compete for four spots in the main tournament, to be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5, 2026.

Bangladesh and Scotland have already secured places in the qualifier after participating in the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup. The United States, Nepal, and Thailand qualified through regional tournaments. The remaining five teams will be determined through qualifiers in Africa, Europe, and East Asia-Pacific next year.

Nepal earned their spot by finishing second behind Thailand in the Asia Qualifier held in Thailand. Their crucial win over the UAE, highlighted by an unbeaten 30 from captain Indu Barma and a four-wicket haul by Manisha Upadhyay (4/20), secured their first-ever place in the global qualifier.

Hosting



the event marks a historic moment for Nepal. Not only will the team compete in the global qualifier for the first time, but they will also have the opportunity to do so on home soil. The format includes two groups of five teams each, followed by a Super Six stage and a final, promising high-stakes action and a major opportunity for Nepal’s women cricketers to shine.

The 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be played across seven iconic venues in England, featuring 33 matches over 24 days. The tournament kicks off on June 12 with hosts England taking on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, Birmingham. One of the headline fixtures, India vs Pakistan, will also take place at Edgbaston on June 14.

Group-stage matches and semi-finals will be played at Old Trafford (Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), The Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), Bristol County Ground (Bristol), and The Oval (London). The semi-finals are scheduled for June 30 and July 2 at The Oval, while the final will be held at Lord’s, London, on July 5.