ArdorComm Media News Network
November 20, 2025
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the complete fixture list 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 event will feature 16 teams competing in 41 matches, culminating in the final at the Harare Sports Club on February 6.
The tournament will open with three exciting clashes: India vs USA, Zimbabwe vs Scotland, and a landmark moment as Tanzania makes its maiden U19 World Cup appearance against the West Indies. Matches will be staged across five venues — Harare Sports Club, Takashinga Sports Club, Queens Sports Club (Zimbabwe), and Namibia Cricket Ground along with HP Oval (Namibia).
Adopting the familiar structure, the competition will begin with four groups of four teams, progressing to the Super Six, followed by the semi-finals and the title match. Reigning champions Australia will commence their title defence against Ireland on January 16 in Windhoek. A highly anticipated face-off between traditional rivals India and Bangladesh is scheduled for January 17 in Bulawayo.
Automatic qualification was granted to ten teams based on their 2024 World Cup showing, while hosts Zimbabwe and five regional qualifiers completed the lineup — a strong reflection of cricket’s expanding global footprint. Teams are expected to arrive on January 8, with warm-up games set between January 9 and 14.
Group allocations are as follows:
- Group A: India, Bangladesh, USA, New Zealand
- Group B: Zimbabwe, Pakistan, England, Scotland
- Group C: Australia, Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka
- Group D: Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa
Sharing his enthusiasm for the upcoming edition, ICC Chairman Jay Shah highlighted the tournament’s legacy in nurturing cricket’s biggest names — from Brian Lara and Sanath Jayasuriya to Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Shubman Gill. He noted that the 2026 tournament promises to provide young talents with a platform that mirrors the pressures of top-tier international cricket.
Shah also celebrated Tanzania’s debut, calling it a sign of the sport’s increasing global reach, and extended his best wishes to all participating teams.
Key schedule highlights include:
- January 15: USA vs India (Bulawayo), Zimbabwe vs Scotland (Harare), Tanzania vs West Indies (Windhoek)
- January 16: Pakistan vs England (Harare), Australia vs Ireland (Windhoek), Afghanistan vs South Africa (Windhoek)
- January 17: India vs Bangladesh (Bulawayo), Japan vs Sri Lanka (Windhoek)
- February 6: Final (Harare Sports Club)
The complete schedule spans from January 15 to February 6, featuring the group stage, Super Six matches, semi-finals, and the championship finale.
Source: IANS