Italy has officially qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, to be held in India and Sri Lanka in February and March 2026. A landmark moment for Italian cricket. This is the first time a senior ICC World Cup event, led by former Australian batter Joe Burns, will see an Italian men’s cricket team. Not only is this an extraordinary moment for the team, it is also a real milestone as cricket continues to grow on the Italian landscape.
The Journey
Italy achieved qualification through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier competition in The Hague, Netherlands. Despite losing their final match, to the Netherlands by nine wickets, Italy qualified on net run rate from Jersey, finishing second in the group to gain qualification. The Netherlands took first place and qualified as well.
Some highlights from Italy’s campaign were:
A thrilling 12 run win, on July 9, 2025, over Scotland, that kept Italy qualified.
beating Guernsey, and consistent performances from their players.
Scoring a credible 134/7 against the Netherlands in their final game where the Netherlands chased in 16.2 overs.
With Joe Burns as captain and coach Gareth Berg, an Italian veteran who played for Italy in the 2012 T20 World Cup Qualifiers, they have formed a terrific team. Berg, who has been involved in Italian cricket for a decade, was pivotal in this fairytale qualification.
Italy’s Players
Italy’s squad featured players from multiple backgrounds including a good number of Australian and English players in their squad, which helped to add depth to their play. Their smart inclusivity helped them reach the Europe regional qualifier from the 2022-23 sub-regional qualifiers. This ultimately resulted in Italy’s historic qualification.
Italy’s historic qualification serves as a testament to cricket’s international growth, especially in non-traditional cricket-playing nations. As the 25th nation to qualify for the T20 World Cup, Italy will be joining 14 other confirmed teams, including hosts India and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, USA, West Indies, and Netherlands. There are still five spots available with qualifiers to come from Africa and Asia-Pacific.
Fan Reaction
The cricketing ecosystem was thrilled and surprised. Fans on X were amused and pointed out the irony in Italy qualifying for a cricket World Cup when they missed the last two FIFA World Cups. Posts celebrating the “Azzurri’s” historic achievement flooded in with many fans stating that this was an inspirational milestone for cricket’s globalization..
Future
The 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be the 10th Edition of the tournament, will involve 20 teams and take place in India and Sri Lanka. Italy’s inclusion will provide a new flavor in the tournament, with many fans excited to see how the team goes in their first match on the world stage. We will provide updates on the team announcements, and schedule of matches as the event draws closer.
Source: Cricbuzz, ESPNcricinfo, ICC
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