Italy are one win away from making history. With just seven spots left for the 2026 T20 World Cup, Italy stunned Scotland in the Europe Regional Final on Wednesday to jump into top position.
Now, a final hurdle remains: against the Netherlands on Friday. If they pull this off, the Joe Burns-led side will reach their first-ever ICC event.
The European leg of the qualifiers is being held in the Netherlands, which has also been tightly contested so far.
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Five teams began with hopes of qualifying. Heading into the final day of fixtures, four teams are still in the competition - Italy, Netherlands, Scotland and Jersey. Only two of them will advance to the tournament in India and Sri Lanka next year.
Italy are currently top of the table with 5 points from three games and a good Net Run Rate. However, the final standings could get complicated, with Jersey and Scotland facing off and Italy meeting the Dutch.
Rules for qualification in T20 WC Europe Qualifier 2025
The format is straightforward. Each team plays once against the others in a round-robin format.
After the final group matches on July 11, the top two teams in the standings will qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
T20 WC Europe Qualifier 2025 updated points table
Let's take a look at the latest points table below:
| Position | Team | Matches | W | L | NR | Pts | NRR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Italy | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | +1.722 |
| 2 | Netherlands | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | +1.200 |
| 3 | Jersey | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | +0.430 |
| 4 | Scotland | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | −0.150 |
| 5 | Guernsey (E) | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | −2.517 |
Can Italy qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 in India?
Yes, they are very close. A win over the Netherlands will guarantee Italy a top-two finish and a spot in the T20 World Cup.
Even in case of a loss, their superior NRR could help them edge past the winner of the Scotland vs Jersey match, depending on the margin.
Italy's remaining fixture in T20 WC Europe Qualifier 2025
Let's take a look at Italy's remaining fixture below:
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| July 11 | Netherlands | The Hague |
How can Italy qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 in India? Qualification scenario explained
If Italy beat Netherlands: They qualify directly with 7 points.
If Italy lose: They will finish on 5 points. Then, the winner of Scotland vs Jersey will move to 5 points too. Qualification will then be decided by NRR.
If Italy lose by a big margin and Scotland or Jersey win big, Italy could slip to third.
In short, Italy controls its destiny. A win seals it. A close loss might still do the trick. Anything else, and their World Cup hopes hinge on net run rates and other results.
Italy's upcoming fixture, wins required, and chances of qualification
| Upcoming Fixture | vs Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Wins required | 1 |
| Chances of qualification | 75% |
When is Italy's next match at the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier?
Italy will face off against the Netherlands on July 11, 2025, in Match 10 of the T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier.
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