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Kathmandu, 

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced Nepal as the host nation for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, which will be held from 12 January to 2 February 2026.

The 21-day tournament will feature 10 international teams competing for four coveted spots at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be held in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026. All matches will be played at two venues — Lower Mulpani Cricket Stadium and Upper Mulpani Cricket Stadium in Kathmandu.

Among the teams confirmed for the Qualifier are Bangladesh and Scotland, who earned automatic entry by virtue of participating in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, won by New Zealand in Dubai.

Thailand and Nepal have secured their places from the Asia region, while the USA will represent the Americas. In total, five teams are currently confirmed — Bangladesh, Scotland, Thailand, Nepal, and USA — with the remaining five spots to be filled through regional qualifiers in Africa, Europe, and East Asia-Pacific.

The tournament format includes two groups of five teams each, followed by a Super Six stage and culminating in a grand final, which will decide the four teams that will progress to the World Cup.

The full schedule of the qualifier tournament will be released soon.

Meanwhile, the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be the largest edition ever, will see 12 teams playing 33 matches over 24 days across seven iconic venues in England and Wales, including Old Trafford (Manchester), Headingley (Leeds), Hampshire Bowl (Southampton), and Bristol County Ground.

Hosting the global qualifier marks a historic moment for Nepalese cricket, especially in the women’s game, and reflects Nepal’s growing status as an international cricketing venue.