Oman and Nepal became the 18th and 19th teams to secure their spots in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on Wednesday. Currently atop the standings of the Super 6 stage in the T20 World Cup Asia-EAP Regional final held in Muscat, the rising Asian teams secured their qualification after the United Arab Emirates hammered Samoa by 77 runs to better their command over the third qualifying spot in the qualifier standings.
Having featured at last year’s T20 World Cup in the USA and the Caribbean, Oman arrived in the Qualifiers as one of the favourites to progress through. Three of the six teams are slated to progress to the marquee 20-team World Cup, slated to be held between February 6 and March 7 in India and Sri Lanka.
The upcoming edition will also be the second 20-team World Cup after the previous edition in 2024, where both Nepal and Oman had made first-round appearances. Overall, this is the third time Oman has progressed into the World Cup, after 2016 and 2024. So is Nepal after 2014 and 2024.
With the UAE moving up to four points in the group, their shot for the final spot in the World Cup can only be challenged Japan. With two games in hand, including the next against the UAE, Japan can outrun their opponents if they manage two wins over the next three days.
| Team | Method of qualification |
Last time qualified |
Total times qualified |
Previous best
performance |
| India |
Co-hosts
|
2024 | 10 |
Winners (2007, 2024)
|
| Sri Lanka | 2024 | 10 |
Winners (2014)
|
|
| Afghanistan |
2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
(Top 7 teams from the previous tournament, excluding hosts) |
2024 | 8 |
Semi-finals (2024)
|
| Australia | 2024 | 10 |
Winners (2021)
|
|
| Bangladesh | 2024 | 10 |
Super 8 (2007, 2024)
|
|
| England | 2024 | 10 |
Winners (2010, 2022)
|
|
| South Africa | 2024 | 10 |
Runners-up (2024)
|
|
|
United States
|
2024 | 2 |
Super 8 (2024)
|
|
| West Indies | 2024 | 10 |
Winners (2012, 2016)
|
|
| Ireland |
ICC T20I Rankings
|
2024 | 9 |
Super 8 (2009)
|
| New Zealand | 2024 | 10 |
Runners-up (2021)
|
|
| Pakistan | 2024 | 10 |
Winners (2009)
|
|
| Canada | Americas Qualifier | 2024 | 2 |
Group stage (2024)
|
| Italy |
Europe Qualifier
|
— | 1 | Debut |
| Netherlands | 2024 | 7 |
Super 12 (2022)
|
|
| Namibia |
Africa Qualifier
|
2024 | 4 |
Super 12 (2021)
|
| Zimbabwe | 2022 | 7 |
Super 12 (2022)
|
|
| Oman |
Asia & EAP Qualifier
|
First round (2016, 2021, 2024) | ||
| Nepal | First round (2014, 2024) | |||
| TBD |
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