Mumbai: India will begin their defence of the T20 World Cup title on February 7, 2026, with a night match against the USA in Mumbai, as the ICC on Tuesday unveiled the complete schedule for the tournament jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

The tenth edition of the event opens earlier the same day with Pakistan facing the Netherlands in Colombo, followed by Bangladesh taking on the West Indies in Kolkata. India’s match under lights will conclude the day’s action.

A special administrative arrangement agreed upon earlier this year between India and Pakistan means the venues for the semifinals and final will vary depending on Pakistan’s progress, adding a unique element to the 2026 tournament.

India headline Group A alongside Pakistan, the USA, Namibia and the Netherlands. While India and Pakistan are tipped as favourites to advance, the USA’s shock victory over Pakistan in the previous edition serves as a reminder that upsets remain possible.

The much-anticipated India–Pakistan game is scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. India will play their remaining group fixtures in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Co-hosts Sri Lanka find themselves in a tricky Group B with Australia, Ireland, Zimbabwe and Oman. Australia open against Ireland, while Zimbabwe mark their return to the global stage with a high-profile clash against Sri Lanka.

Group C features two-time champions England and the West Indies, alongside Bangladesh and first-time qualifiers Italy and Nepal. England are set to meet the West Indies on February 11 in Mumbai, with Italy’s maiden appearance adding a historic note to the group.

Group D is arguably the toughest, comprising Afghanistan, South Africa and New Zealand — the 2024 semifinalists. Canada and the UAE round out the group, but major attention will centre on heavyweight meetings such as South Africa vs Afghanistan and New Zealand vs South Africa, both scheduled for Ahmedabad.

The top two sides from each group will move on to the Super Eight stage, split into two pools of four. The leading two teams from each Super Eight group will progress to the semifinals, ahead of the final on March 8, which will decide the 2026 world champions.

T20 World Cup Groups