Defending champions India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A in the 20-team competition being co-hosted by Sri Lanka, according to the schedule released by the International Cricket Council in Mumbai.
It will be the first time the two teams play each other since their three heated contests at the 2025 Asia Cup in the UAE, where they skipped the customary handshake at the toss and post-match greetings.
The Asia Cup was the first time they had met since a deadly border conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.
The T20 World Cup will see Pakistan playing all their matches in Sri Lanka, part of a compromise deal that allows both India and Pakistan to play at neutral venues in multi-nation tournaments.
Matches in the tournament will be held from February 7 across five venues in India and three in Sri Lanka.
Cricket-made India, the world's most populous nation, is the epicentre of the T20 game through its lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL), boasting top global stars.
The tournament will use the same format as 2024 -- 20 teams in four groups, ahead of a Super Eights phase, with the top two finishers from each group making it to the playoffs.
The final will be played on March 8 either in Ahmedabad or Colombo, depending on whether Pakistan go all the way.
- Newcomers Italy -
India enter the sport's 10th edition of the showcase T20 tournament as reigning champions, having beaten South Africa by seven runs in 2024 in Barbados.
Indian fans are dreaming of seeing their men's team win a second time at home, after they clinched the 50-over World Cup in Mumbai in 2011.
India's women celebrated a watershed moment this month, when the team won their first World Cup crown, beating South Africa in the final at Mumbai.
Indian broadcaster JioHotstar said the viewing figures of the final on their app matched that of the men's T20 World Cup 2024 summit clash, a "staggering 185 million users", according to the ICC.
"It is wonderful to welcome the ICC Men's T20 World Cup back to the subcontinent so soon after a groundbreaking Women's Cricket World Cup," ICC chairman Jay Shah said.
"The passion for cricket in this region is unmatched, and fans have been waiting eagerly for another global spectacle."
Alongside hosts India and Sri Lanka, top finishers from the 2024 edition taking part are Australia, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, United States and West Indies.
From Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe have qualified. From Europe, Ireland, the Netherlands and -- for the first time -- Italy are also playing.
Also included are Nepal, Oman and United Arab Emirates.
Ahmedabad, in the western state of Gujarat, is home to a 130,000-seater arena which is the world's biggest cricket stadium, named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The city is in prime position to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games, with a final announcement on Wednesday.
India has its eyes on a bigger prize, having submitted a formal letter of intent last year to the International Olympic Committee to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
T20 World Cup Groups:
Group A: India, USA, Namibia, Netherlands, Pakistan
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE
🏆 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 – Full Fixtures Card
📅 7 February 2026
11:00 AM – Pakistan vs Netherlands – SSC, Colombo
3:00 PM – West Indies vs Bangladesh – Kolkata
7:00 PM – India vs USA – Mumbai
📅 8 February 2026
11:00 AM – New Zealand vs Afghanistan – Chennai
3:00 PM – England vs Nepal – Mumbai
7:00 PM – Sri Lanka vs Ireland – Premadasa, Colombo
📅 9 February 2026
11:00 AM – Bangladesh vs Italy – Kolkata
3:00 PM – Zimbabwe vs Oman – SSC, Colombo
7:00 PM – South Africa vs Canada – Ahmedabad
📅 10 February 2026
11:00 AM – Netherlands vs Namibia – Delhi
3:00 PM – New Zealand vs UAE – Chennai
7:00 PM – Pakistan vs USA – SSC, Colombo
📅 11 February 2026
11:00 AM – South Africa vs Afghanistan – Ahmedabad
3:00 PM – Australia vs Ireland – Premadasa, Colombo
7:00 PM – England vs West Indies – Mumbai
📅 12 February 2026
11:00 AM – Sri Lanka vs Oman – Kandy
3:00 PM – Nepal vs Italy – Mumbai
7:00 PM – India vs Namibia – Delhi
📅 13 February 2026
11:00 AM – Australia vs Zimbabwe – Premadasa, Colombo
3:00 PM – Canada vs UAE – Delhi
7:00 PM – USA vs Netherlands – Chennai
📅 14 February 2026
11:00 AM – Ireland vs Oman – SSC, Colombo
3:00 PM – England vs Bangladesh – Kolkata
7:00 PM – New Zealand vs South Africa – Ahmedabad
📅 15 February 2026
11:00 AM – West Indies vs Nepal – Mumbai
3:00 PM – USA vs Namibia – Chennai
7:00 PM – India vs Pakistan – Premadasa, Colombo
📅 16 February 2026
11:00 AM – Afghanistan vs UAE – Delhi
3:00 PM – England vs Italy – Kolkata
7:00 PM – Australia vs Sri Lanka – Kandy
📅 17 February 2026
11:00 AM – New Zealand vs Canada – Chennai
3:00 PM – Ireland vs Zimbabwe – Kandy
7:00 PM – Bangladesh vs Nepal – Mumbai
📅 18 February 2026
11:00 AM – South Africa vs UAE – Delhi
3:00 PM – Pakistan vs Namibia – SSC, Colombo
7:00 PM – India vs Netherlands – Ahmedabad
📅 19 February 2026
11:00 AM – West Indies vs Italy – Kolkata
3:00 PM – Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe – Premadasa, Colombo
7:00 PM – Afghanistan vs Canada – Chennai
📅 20–28 February 2026
(Super 8 fixtures – X/Y groups – placeholders as per ICC schedule)
Includes matches such as:
20 Feb – Australia vs Oman – Kandy (7 PM)
22 Feb – Y1 vs Y4 – Kandy
22 Feb – X1 vs X4 – Ahmedabad
23 Feb – X2 vs X3 – Mumbai
26 Feb – X3 vs X4 – Ahmedabad
26 Feb – X1 vs X2 – Chennai
27 Feb – Y1 vs Y2 – Premadasa, Colombo
28 Feb – Y3 vs Y4 – Kandy
📅 1 March 2026
11:00 AM – X2 vs X4 – Delhi
7:00 PM – X1 vs X3 – Kolkata
📅 4–7 March 2026 (Knockouts)
4 March – SF1 – Kolkata
4 March – SF1 – Premadasa, Colombo
5 March – SF2 – Mumbai
7 March – KO Matches
🏆 FINAL – 8 March 2026
7:00 PM – Final – Premadasa, Colombo
7:00 PM – Final – Ahmedabad
