UAE become 20th & last team to qualify for T20 World Cup 2026; Japan exit from race

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) became the 20th and final team to qualify for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup set to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 6 to March 8 next year. UAE confirmed their qualification after defeating Japan in their final Super Six match of the T20 World Cup Asia-EAP Qualifier 2025 at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground (Minry Turf 1) in Al Amerat on Thursday.
UAE made short work of Japan’s 119-run target as they chased down the total in just 12.1 overs, which made sure they finished third in the standings after their five matches. The win also denied World Cup opportunities for Japan, Samoa and Qatar.
Earlier on Wednesday, Oman and Nepal also secured their spots in the 2026 event. Oman and Nepal became the 18th and 19th teams to secure their qualification in the T20 World Cup. Nepal are unbeaten in the event, having won all four matches in the Super Six after winning the two group stage games.
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This will be the UAE’s third entry in the T20 World Cup, having been part of the 2014 and 2022 World Cups. On both occasions, they failed to progress after the first round.

The upcoming edition will also be the second 20-team World Cup after the previous edition in 2024.
Canada from the Americas, Italy and the Netherlands from Europe, Namibia and Zimbabwe from Africa, Oman, Nepal and the UAE from Asia & EAP are the eight teams to qualify from the Qualifier events.

T20 World Cup 2026 – Full L of Qualified Teams

Team
Method ofqualification
Lasttimequalified
Totaltimesqualified

India

Co-hosts

2024
10

Sri Lanka
2024
10

Afghanan

2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup(Top 7 teams from the previous tournament,excluding hosts)

2024
8

Australia
2024
10

Bangladesh
2024
10

England
2024
10

South Africa
2024
10

2024
2

West Indies
2024
10

Ireland

ICC T20I Rankings

2024
9

New Zealand
2024
10

Pakan
2024
10

Canada
Americas Qualifier
2024
2

Italy

Europe Qualifier

—
1
Debut

Netherlands
2024
7

Namibia

Africa Qualifier

2024
4

Zimbabwe
2022
7

Oman

Asia & EAP Qualifier

4
First round (2016, 2021, 2024)

Nepal

3
First round (2014, 2024)

UAE

3
First round (2014, 2022)