ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026: Final Step to an Expanded World Cup

Introduction: Why the Qualifier Matters

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier is the decisive tournament that determines the final entrants to the expanded 16-team 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Played in January and February 2026 in Nepal, the Global Qualifier is important both for competing teams seeking World Cup berths and for the broader development of women’s cricket — particularly in host nation Nepal, where staging the event is expected to boost local infrastructure, participation and international exposure.

Main body: Format, Pathways and Early Results

Structure and qualification pathways

The Qualifier brings together teams that progressed through regional pathways across Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas and East Asia–Pacific. The competition features a group stage followed by a Super Six stage. Under the tournament format the top four teams from the Global Qualifier will earn places at the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. The design of multiple group and Super Six matches ensures teams receive several fixtures, reinforcing the ICC’s objective to strengthen development pathways in women’s cricket.

Notable match outcomes

Several early matches at the International Cricket Ground, Kageshwari-Manohara have already produced decisive performances. Papua New Guinea recorded a win by 11 runs at the venue; that match listed Rizwan Akram (NED) and Shathira Jakir (BAN) as umpires, with Konio Oala (PNG) named Player of the Match. In another fixture at the same ground, the Netherlands won by 17 runs; umpires were Shathira Jakir (BAN) and Buddhi Pradhan (NEP), and Isabel van der Woning (NED) was awarded Player of the Match.

Scotland secures World Cup spot

According to ICC match highlights from the Global Qualifier, Scotland secured their place at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup with a strong victory over the United States. That result underscores the competitive nature of the Qualifier and the opportunities it provides for associate nations to reach the global stage.

Conclusion: Implications and Outlook

With the tournament serving as the final step toward a 16-team World Cup, the Global Qualifier carries significant stakes: four teams will advance to the 2026 event, while others gain valuable international experience. Hosting in Nepal offers long-term benefits for domestic development, and early results — including wins for Papua New Guinea, the Netherlands and Scotland’s qualification — highlight rising competitiveness among associate nations. As group and Super Six stages progress, the Qualifier will clarify which four teams join the expanded World Cup and further indicate the direction of growth in women’s international cricket.