Europe sub regional qualifier B for T20 World Cup 2026 set to begin in Germany

Germany is all set to host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Sub Regional Qualifier B, commencing this Sunday. This qualifier event marks a crucial step on the pathway to the prestigious T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka next year.

Following Italy's success in the Sub Regional Qualifier A last month, ten European teams have gathered in Duisburg with aspirations to secure a spot in next year's Europe Qualifier. The participating nations include Belgium, Croatia, Gibraltar, Jersey, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, alongside the hosts, Germany. Over the course of eight days, these teams will compete in 24 matches at two renowned venues: the Krefeld Cricket Ground and the Gelsenkirchen Cricket Ground.

The tournament format begins with two groups of five teams each engaging in round-robin fixtures. The top two teams from each group will advance to the playoffs scheduled for Sunday, 14 July. The highlight of the playoffs will be a decisive match between the top two teams, where the winner will earn a coveted ticket to the next round of qualification.

With memories of the thrilling ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 still fresh, held in the USA and West Indies, cricket enthusiasts can expect gripping action and intense competition in Germany. The event promises to deliver excitement as teams strive for the opportunity to compete in the ultimate T20 cricket event in 2026.

Fans worldwide can catch all the live action on ICC.tv, while those in India can follow the matches on FanCode.

ICC Europe Regional Development Manager, Andrew Wright, commented: “We are delighted to be continuing our fantastic summer of men's international cricket with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub Regional Qualifier B in Germany.

“Having concluded a successful Qualifier A in Rome last month, we're excited to be offering the Deutscher Cricket Bund the opportunity to host an ICC event of this size for the very first time. Yet again, we have ten participating teams who all go into the competition with their sights firmly set on advancing to next year's Europe Qualifier, just one step away from India and Sri Lanka.

“For those in the Nordrhein Westfalen region, we hope you enjoy the live action and for those further afield, you can watch it all on ICC.tv. We hope you enjoy the cricket.”

Deutscher Cricket Bund Chief Executive, Dieter Voigt, and President, Severin Weiss issued a joint statement ahead of the competition: “We are extremely pleased to welcome the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Sub Regional Qualifier B. It is a great honour for us to host this significant tournament in the cities of Krefeld, Duisburg and Gelsenkirchen. The qualifier is a crucial step on the road to the World Cup and a testament to the growing interest and commitment to cricket in Europe.

“Organizing such a tournament is no easy task and would not have been possible without the support of numerous volunteers. Our special thanks, therefore, go to the many volunteers who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that this tournament runs smoothly.

“We would also like to thank the ICC for their support and trust in allowing us to host this significant event here in Germany and our sponsors, who with their dedication guarantee the economic foundation of this tournament,” they concluded.

The Europe Sub Regional Qualifier B is part of a series of qualifying events across ICC regions, paving the way for teams to compete at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.