KEY POINTS
- Super Eight teams from T20 World Cup 2026 secure automatic qualification.
- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Ireland claim final three direct spots via ICC rankings.
- Eight remaining slots to be filled through regional qualifiers, with two for Africa and one for Americas.
ISLAMABAD: The road to the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup has begun to take shape, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirming the first batch of qualified teams on Wednesday.
Following the conclusion of the Super Eights stage in the ongoing 2026 tournament, twelve Full Member nations have secured their direct passage to the next edition, set to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
12 teams have punched their ticket for the ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 2028 🎫
More ➡️ https://t.co/PeTqvtPWt0 pic.twitter.com/QTVapKCH9S
— ICC (@ICC) February 19, 2026
From Super Eights to automatic qualification
The qualification pathway was partially determined by performances in the current 2026 World Cup.
The eight teams that have successfully advanced to the Super Eights in the ongoing tournament have automatically punched their tickets for 2028.
This elite group includes cricketing powerhouses England, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, and Zimbabwe.
Adding to this list are the two official hosts for the 2028 event. As co-hosts, Australia and New Zealand have also secured their automatic berths.
Crucially, both teams are also currently competing in the Super Eights of the 2026 World Cup, bringing the total of directly qualified teams to nine.
Rankings secure final full-member slots
With nine spots filled, the remaining three direct qualification slots were allocated based on the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings.
The cut-off date for these rankings is set for March 9, 2026, the day after the final of the current World Cup.
According to an ICC release, the next three highest-ranked teams are guaranteed their place.
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Ireland are projected to occupy these positions.
The ICC confirmed that no upcoming international fixtures are scheduled that would alter their ranking status before the deadline, effectively securing their participation in the 2028 tournament.
This means that the first 12 teams confirmed for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup are exclusively the twelve Full Members of the ICC.
Eight spots up for grabs
With the 12 Full Member nations now confirmed, the battle begins for the remaining eight spots in the 20-team lineup.
These slots will be filled through a series of regional qualification tournaments.
The ICC has stated that the allocation of these spots will be “based on the relative competitive strength of each region.”
The qualification structure will see a shift in representation compared to the 2026 edition.
For instance, with South Africa and Zimbabwe already qualified, it opens the door for two African Associate nations to qualify for the next World Cup.
Conversely, the allocation suggests a more challenging path for teams in the Americas, with only one qualifying spot projected for the entire region, provided the number of regional qualifying spots remains consistent with the current cycle.
The stage is now set for Associate nations across the globe to begin their campaigns, dreaming of joining the world’s best on cricket’s biggest stage in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.
