The journey to the 2026 ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia, is underway. While several teams have secured their spots, others are battling it out in regional qualifiers for the remaining positions. Here’s the latest on the teams that have qualified and those still in contention.
Teams Qualified for the 2026 U19 World Cup
Automatic Qualifiers
The following 11 teams have automatically qualified for the 2026 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, either as full members from the previous edition or as hosts:
| Team | Qualification Basis |
|---|---|
| India | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Australia | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| England | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Pakistan | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| South Africa | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| New Zealand | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Sri Lanka | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| West Indies | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Bangladesh | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Ireland | 2024 U19 World Cup performance |
| Zimbabwe | Host Nation |
Read Also:- Team India’s Strongest Playing XI for T20 World Cup 2026
Qualified via Regional Pathway
1. Africa Region – Tanzania Create History
Tanzania made headlines by becoming the first team to qualify through the regional qualification process. After winning Division 2 in August 2024, they dominated the Africa Division 1 Qualifier held in Nigeria in April 2025.
They beat strong teams like Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, and sealed qualification with a 98-run win over Sierra Leone.
Key Performers:
- Laksh Bakrania: All-round brilliance – captain & consistent contributor.
- Hamza Onai: Match-winning 5-wicket haul vs. Sierra Leone.
✔️ Qualified Team from Africa: Tanzania
2. Asia Region – Nepal vs Afghanistan Final Showdown
Afghanistan and Nepal both remained unbeaten in the Asia Division 1 Qualifier being held in Kathmandu, Nepal. Both teams sit on 6 points from 3 games each and will face off on Saturday, April 19, 2025, in a virtual final.
If the match is washed out, Afghanistan will qualify due to a superior Net Run Rate.
Standout Performers:
- Afghanistan:
- Khalid Ahmadzai (132 vs UAE)
- Nooristani Omarzai (3/40 vs UAE)
- Nepal:
- Yuvraj Khatri (4-wicket hauls in back-to-back matches)
- Bipin Sharma (Young prodigy from Nepal Premier League)
To be Decided: Winner of Nepal vs Afghanistan (April 19)
3. Americas Region – Qualifier Yet to Begin
The Americas qualifier will be held from August 7 to 17, 2025, in the United States. The five participating teams are:
| Team |
|---|
| United States (Host) |
| Canada |
| Bermuda |
| Suriname |
| Argentina |
To be Decided: One team from Americas Qualifier in August 2025
Read Also:- T20 World Cup 2026: Host Country, Stadiums and Qualified Teams
4. Europe Region – Final Stage in July-August 2025
The Europe Division 1 Qualifier is scheduled from July 31 to August 6, 2025, in Scotland. Six teams will compete:
| Team |
|---|
| Scotland (Host) |
| Netherlands |
| Denmark |
| Sweden |
| Jersey |
| Guernsey |
Netherlands and Denmark have shown strong form in Division 2 and will be strong contenders.
To be Decided: One team from Europe Division 1 in August 2025
5. East Asia-Pacific Region – Final in April 2025
The final leg of the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) qualification will take place from April 24 to 29, 2025, in Japan.
Qualified for Division 1:
- Fiji
- Japan (Host)
- Papua New Guinea (Winner of Division 2)
To be Decided: One team from EAP Division 1 in April 2025
Summary Table – Qualified & Pending
| Region | Qualified / Upcoming Match | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Africa | Tanzania | ✅ Qualified |
| Asia | Nepal vs Afghanistan (Apr 19) | 🔜 To Be Decided |
| Americas | USA, Canada, Bermuda, Suriname, Argentina | 🔜 Aug 7–17, 2025 |
| Europe | 6 teams in Scotland | 🔜 July 31 – Aug 6, 2025 |
| East Asia-Pacific | Fiji, Japan, PNG | 🔜 Apr 24 – 29, 2025 |
With only one spot officially confirmed through qualifiers (Tanzania from Africa), the battle for the remaining four regional slots is heating up. The high-voltage Nepal vs Afghanistan clash on April 19 will decide the next team to head to Zimbabwe & Namibia for the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup.
