The West Indies Women will launch their 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with a challenging showdown against reigning champions New Zealand after both were drawn in Group Two of the tournament set to bowl off on June 12.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially unveiled the full tournament schedule, which confirmed 24 days of high-octane international cricket across England and Wales, with iconic venues like The Oval, Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford, and Hampshire Bowl hosting matches.
The Windies will share Group Two with host nation England, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and two teams from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, which takes place next year. Group One features Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, and two additional qualifiers.
This 2026 edition marks a significant milestone for the sport, as the tournament continues to build momentum behind the growing popularity and influence of women’s cricket.
It also represents a major opportunity for the West Indies to reclaim their place among the sport’s elite after mixed results in recent global events.
The tournament will open with England crossing swords with Sri Lanka under the lights at Edgbaston, while fans can also look forward to fiery clashes such as India against Pakistan and Australia against South Africa in the group stages.
Tournament Director Beth Barrett-Wild described the event as “a transformative opportunity” for women’s cricket.
“The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket. It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket and women’s sport the stage it deserves,” she said.
The semi-finals and final will be played in London, at The Oval and Lord’s, adding prestige to the tournament’s knockout stages. Fans are already flocking to secure tickets, with priority passes for the final selling out within 24 hours of release.
The West Indies Women, who won the title in 2016, will be keen to recapture past glory and make a deep run in the newly expanded 12-team format.
Australia boast a record six titles (2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2020, and 2023), while England (2019) and New Zealand join the West Indies with one title each.
Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Qualifier, and Qualifier.
Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Qualifier, and Qualifier.
