It’s time for another ICC tournament. This one will feature young prodigies in the ICC Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026. The tournament returns for its 16th edition.
So, here’s all you need to know about the ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026.
When does the U19 World Cup 2026 start?
The 16th edition of the U19 World Cup will begin on January 15, 2026. Five-time champions, India, will take on the USA in the tournament opener in Bulawayo.
Co-hosts Zimbabwe will also be in action on the same day, squaring off against Scotland in Harare. There will be another match in Namibia’s Windhoek featuring the West Indies and Tanzania.
How many teams are participating?
It’s a big tournament. A total of 16 teams will be in action to claim the trophy.
All 12 full members have qualified for the event, along with four associate teams. Notably, co-hosts Namibia missed out on qualification.
Here are the 16 teams participating in the U19 World Cup 2026:
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- England
- India
- Ireland
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- Scotland
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania
- United States of America
- West Indies
- Zimbabwe
Are teams divided into groups?
Yes. The teams have been split into four groups of four sides each.
Here are the groups for the U19 World Cup 2026:
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Bangladesh | England | Afghanistan |
| Ireland | India | Pakistan | South Africa |
| Japan | New Zealand | Scotland | Tanzania |
| Sri Lanka | USA | Zimbabwe | West Indies |
What’s the format of the U19 World Cup 2026?
The format is simple. Teams will first face their group opponents once each, playing three matches.
Then the top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage. The bottom-ranked teams from each group will play in the 16th-place play-off.
The 12 qualified teams, which will qualify for the Super Six, will be divided into two groups. Teams from Groups A and D will form one group, while teams from Groups B and C will be in the other group.
The top two teams from each Super Six group will qualify for the semi-finals. The semi-final winners will then compete in the final.
Which venues will host the U19 World Cup 2026?
Five venues across Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the youth tournament.
Here are the venues for the U19 World Cup 2026:
- Harare Sports Club, Harare, Zimbabwe
- Takashinga Sports Club, Hazare, Zimbabwe
- Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
- High Performance Oval, Windhoek, Namibia
- Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek, Namibia
Ongoing & Upcoming Series Schedule:
India’s Domestic Cricket Schedule 2025-26
Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025/26: Schedule
Australia Schedule for 2025-26 Home Season
Ashes 2025-26 Complete Schedule
New Zealand Schedule for 2025-26 Home Season
World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 Full Schedule
International League T20 (ILT20) 2025-26: Schedule
Big Bash League 2025-26: Schedule
Bangladesh Premier League 2026: Schedule
India vs New Zealand 2026 Series: Schedule
India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Schedule
ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Schedule
Indian Women’s Cricket Team 2026 Schedule
India’s ODI Schedule Till 2027 Cricket World Cup
Australia’s ODI Schedule Till 2027 Cricket World Cup
South Africa’s ODI Schedule Till 2027 Cricket World Cup
What’s the full schedule for the U19 World Cup 2026?
The tournament runs from January 15 to February 6, 2026. A total of 41 matches will take place in the tournament.
Twelve of the 41 matches are part of the Super Six stage, which starts on January 25. The Super Six stage runs till February 1.
The semi-finals will take place on February 3 and 4, with the final scheduled for February 6.
ICC Men’s U19 World Cup 2026: Complete Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time (Local / IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jan | USA vs India | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 15 Jan | Zimbabwe vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 15 Jan | Tanzania vs West Indies | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 16 Jan | Pakistan vs England | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 16 Jan | Australia vs Ireland | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 16 Jan | Afghanistan vs South Africa | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | India vs Bangladesh | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 17 Jan | Japan vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | New Zealand vs USA | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | England vs Zimbabwe | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 18 Jan | West Indies vs Afghanistan | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 19 Jan | Pakistan vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 19 Jan | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 19 Jan | South Africa vs Tanzania | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 20 Jan | Australia vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 21 Jan | England vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 21 Jan | Afghanistan vs Tanzania | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 22 Jan | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 22 Jan | Ireland vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 22 Jan | West Indies vs South Africa | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 23 Jan | Bangladesh vs USA | Takashinga Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 23 Jan | Sri Lanka vs Australia | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 24 Jan | India vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 24 Jan | 16th-Place Play-off: A4 vs D4 | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 25 Jan | Super Six: A1 vs D3 | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 25 Jan | Super Six: D2 vs A3 | HP Oval | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 26 Jan | 16th-Place Play-off: B4 vs C4 | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 26 Jan | Super Six: C1 vs B2 | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 26 Jan | Super Six: D1 vs A2 | Namibia Cricket Ground | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 27 Jan | Super Six: C2 vs B3 | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 27 Jan | Super Six: C3 vs B1 | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 28 Jan | Super Six: A1 vs D2 | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 29 Jan | Super Six: D3 vs A2 | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 30 Jan | Super Six: D1 vs A3 | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 30 Jan | Super Six: B3 vs C1 | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 31 Jan | Super Six: B2 vs C3 | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 1 Feb | Super Six: B1 vs C2 | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 3 Feb | First Semi-Final | Queens Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 4 Feb | Second Semi-Final | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
| 6 Feb | Final | Harare Sports Club | 9:30 AM / 1:00 PM |
Who are some players to watch out for in the U19 World Cup 2026?
India’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi will, obviously, have a lot of eyes on him. The 14-year-old is on a century-hitting spree of late. Suryavanshi’s captain, Ayush Mhatre, will be another promising batter to keep an eye on.
England’s Ferhan Ahmed, meanwhile, will look to spin his way to the trophy in his second attempt. New Zealand’s Aryan Mann, who recently made a remarkable first-class start, will now look to impress in the tournament.
What are the squads of all teams in the U19 World Cup 2026?
Australia U19 Squad: Oliver Peake (c), Kasey Barton, Naden Cooray, Jayden Draper, Ben Gordon, Steven Hogan, Thomas Hogan, John James, Charles Lachmund, Will Malajczuk, Nitesh Samuel, Hayden Schiller, Aryan Sharma, William Byrom, Alex Lee Young
Ireland U19 Squad: Olly Riley (c), Reuben Wilson, Alex Armstrong, Callum Armstrong, Marko Bates, Sebastian Dijkstra, Thomas Ford, Samuel Haslett, Adam Leckey, Febin Manoj, Luke Murray, Robert O’Brien, Freddie Ogilby, James West, Bruce Whaley. Reserves: Peter le Roux, William Shields
Japan U19 Squad: Kazuma Kato-Stafford (c), Charles Hara-Hinze, Gabriel Hara-Hinze, Montgomery Hara-Hinze, Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, Timothy Moore, Skyler Nakayama-Cook, Ryuki Ozeki, Nihar Parmar, Nikhil Pol, Chihaya Sekine, Hugo Tani-Kelly, Sandev Aaryan Waduge, Kai Wall, Taylor Waugh
Sri Lanka U19 Squad: Vimath Dinsara (c), Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva
Bangladesh U19 Squad: Azizul Hakim Tamim (c), Zawad Abrar, Samiun Basir Ratul, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Rizan Hossan, Shaharia Al Amin, Shadin Islam, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal, Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Rifat Beg, Saad Islam Razin, Al Fahad, Shahriar Ahmed, Iqbal Hossain. Reserves: Abdur Rahim, Debashis Sarkar Deba, Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Farhan Shahriar, Farzan Ahmed Alif, Sanjid Majumder, Md Sobuj
India U19 Squad: Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi
New Zealand U19 Squad: Tom Jones (c), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Brandon Matzopoulos, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Luke Harrison
USA U19 Squad: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Shiv Shani, Nitish Sudini, Advaith Krishna, Sahir Bhatia, Arjun Mahesh, Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Prasad, Adit Kappa, Sahil Garg, Amogh Reddy Arepally, Ritvik Appidi, Rayaan Taj, Rishabh Shimpi
England U19 Squad: Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Will Bennison, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan
Pakistan U19 Squad: Farhan Yousaf (c), Usman Khan, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib. Reserves: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Huzaifa
Scotland U19 Squad: Thomas Knight (c), Finlay Carter, Max Chaplin, George Cutler, Rory Grant, Finlay Jones, Ollie Jones, Olly Pillinger, Ethan Ramsay, Theo Robinson, Manu Saraswat, Ram Sharma, Shreyas Tekale, Shlok Thaker, Jake Woodhouse
Zimbabwe U19 Squad: Simbarashe Mudzengerere (c), Kian Blignaut, Michael Blignaut, Leeroy Chiwaula, Tatenda Chimugoro, Brendon Senzere, Nathaniel Hlabangana, Takudzwa Makoni, Panashe Mazai, Webster Madhidhi, Shelton Mazvitorera, Kupakwashe Muradzi, Brandon Ndiweni, Dhruv Patel, Benny Zuze
Afghanistan U19 Squad: Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahid Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab, Hafieez Zadran. Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi, Izat Noor
South Africa U19 Squad: Muhammad Bulbulia (c), JJ Basson, Daniel Bosman, Corne Botha, Paul James, Enathi Khitshini Tembalethu, Michael Kruiskamp, Adnaan Lagadien, Bayanda Majola, Armaan Manack, Bandile Mbatha, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Jason Rowles, Ntandoyenkosi Soni, Jorich van Schalkwyk
Tanzania U19 Squad: Laksh Bakrania (c), Karim Kiseto, Hamza Ally, Khalidy Amiri, Abdulazak Mohamedi, Ayaan Shariff, Omary Ramadhani, Dylan Thakrar, Agustino Mwamele, Ally Hafidhi, Acrey Pascal (wk), Darpan Jobanputra, Mohammedi Simba, Raymond Francis, Alfred Daniel
West Indies U19 Squad: Joshua Dorne (c), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange. Reserves: Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James
Where to watch the U19 World Cup 2026?
In India, Star Sports Network will live telecast the U19 World Cup 2026, while JioHotstar will live stream the matches.
Sky Sports will broadcast the matches in the United Kingdom, while Amazon Prime will live stream the matches in Australia. Fans in South Africa can watch the tournament live on SuperSport.
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