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Super 8s Teams in 2026 T20 WC Secure Direct Spots for 2028 Edition

Teams advancing to the Super Eights stage of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup have secured automatic qualification for the 2028 tournament. This rule expands the list of auto-qualifiers to 12 teams, including hosts Australia and New Zealand. Three additional spots will be awarded based on the ICC T20I rankings, with Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland currently in position. The final eight spots for the 20-team 2028 event will be filled through regional qualification pathways.

Key Points: T20 WC Super 8s Teams Qualify for 2028 World Cup

  • Super 8s teams auto-qualify for 2028
  • Hosts Australia & NZ already in
  • 3 more spots via rankings
  • 8 spots via regional pathways
2 min read

T20 WC: Super Eights teams secure direct qualification for ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028

Teams reaching the Super Eights of the 2026 T20 World Cup have earned automatic qualification for the 2028 edition in Australia and New Zealand.

"ensuring continuity for the competition's top-performing sides"

Dubai, Feb 18

The teams that have advanced to the Super Eights of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 have secured automatic qualification for the next edition, scheduled to be held in Australia and New Zealand in 2028.

Pakistan completed the Super Eights lineup with a victory over Namibia, progressing from Group A alongside India. They join Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe from Group B, West Indies and England from Group C, and South Africa and New Zealand from Group D in advancing to the second stage of the 20-team tournament.

Australia and New Zealand have already qualified automatically as co-hosts of the 2028 edition. As per the tournament's qualification rules, all teams reaching the Super Eights have now also confirmed their spots for the next World Cup, ensuring continuity for the competition's top-performing sides.

The list of automatic qualifiers will expand to 12 teams, with the remaining three spots set to be awarded to the highest-ranked sides in the ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings as of March 9, the day after the final. Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Ireland are currently in position to claim those places, with no scheduled matches remaining that could affect their rankings before the cut-off date.

The final eight spots in the 20-team tournament will be decided through regional qualification pathways, with each region allocated places based on its competitive strength, ensuring global representation at the 2028 event.

The stage is set for the Super 8s phase of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, with the tournament entering a decisive stretch as eight teams prepare to battle for semifinal spots. The next round will begin on February 21 and run until March 1, with matches split between venues in India and Sri Lanka.

The Super 8s will determine the four semifinalists, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the knockout rounds. India enter the Super 8s as defending champions, while West Indies, England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka all boast a title-winning pedigree. South Africa and New Zealand remain consistent contenders, while Zimbabwe have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the tournament.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
Interesting format. Rewarding current performance with future qualification makes sense. Keeps the top teams engaged. Good to see Zimbabwe getting a chance to build on their surprise run. Cricket needs more competitive teams.
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Vikram M
Automatic qualification for Super Eight teams is a good move by ICC. It provides stability. But a small critique: what about teams that just miss out? Like Bangladesh might qualify via rankings, but it's a bit unfair if they had a bad day in a must-win match. The system should have a small playoff for the next 2-3 ranked teams.
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Priya S
So excited for the Super Eights starting on the 21st! Matches in India and Sri Lanka will have amazing crowds. The atmosphere will be electric. Hoping for another India vs Pakistan thriller! 🤞
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Rohit P
Good to see the regional qualification pathways are still there. Gives associate nations a dream to chase. The global representation part is important for growing the game beyond the usual 10-12 countries.
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Michael C
As a neutral fan, this sets up a fascinating 2028 tournament in Aus/NZ. The hosts plus these 8 qualifiers will make a strong core. The fight for the last few ranking spots adds an extra layer of drama to the current World Cup too.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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