Italy Qualifies for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the First Time in History

It’s a proud and historic moment for Italian cricket as Italy has qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for the very first time. This big achievement came after a tough battle in the ICC Europe Region Qualifier, where they managed to secure one of the two available spots for the 2026 tournament. The Netherlands also qualified, continuing their strong presence in global T20 cricket.

The final day of the European Qualifier was full of excitement and tension. All four remaining teams still had a chance to reach the World Cup, so every run and over mattered. Italy and the Netherlands held their nerves and came out on top, earning their places in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in India and Sri Lanka.

Even though Italy lost their final match against the Netherlands, they still qualified thanks to their better Net Run Rate (NRR) — a rule in cricket that helps break ties between teams with equal points. Italy batted first and scored 134 runs for the loss of 7 wickets. In response, the Netherlands chased down the target quickly, finishing the game in the 17th over. But for Italy, that was just late enough — had the Netherlands finished the match before the 15th over, Italy would not have qualified.

This narrow escape shows how crucial every moment is in tournament cricket and how Italy’s earlier performances helped them in the end.

For the Netherlands, this qualification adds another proud moment to their rich T20 World Cup history. They didn’t have to depend on net run rate. Instead, they earned their spot with strong and consistent performances throughout the qualifiers. Their team looked sharp, both in batting and bowling, and once again proved why they are one of Europe’s top cricketing nations.

Teams Qualified So Far

With Italy and the Netherlands joining, a total of 15 teams have now confirmed their spots in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. These are:

• Afghanistan
• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Canada
• England
• India
• Ireland
• Italy
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• United States of America (USA)
• West Indies

The tournament will feature 20 teams in total, meaning there are still 5 spots left. These will be decided through upcoming regional qualifiers:

• 3 teams will qualify from the Asia and East Asia-Pacific (EAP) regions
• 2 more teams will come from the Africa region

Italy’s journey to the World Cup is nothing short of inspirational. Cricket is still growing in the country, and this qualification will give a huge boost to the sport’s popularity there. Young players will now have heroes to look up to, and the cricket community in Italy has a new reason to dream big.

On the other hand, the Netherlands continues to be a symbol of European cricket success. Their experience, skill, and solid teamwork have once again brought them into the world spotlight.

With only five spots remaining and teams around the world preparing for the final qualifiers, the road to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 is becoming more intense. As fans look forward to the event in India and Sri Lanka, stories like Italy’s first-ever qualification and the Netherlands’ steady dominance make this tournament even more exciting.

READ MORE: Italy Cricket Team T20 World Cup 2026 Qualification Update