The 20-team line-up for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 is now complete. The United Arab Emirates sealed the final qualifying spot after defeating Japan in the Super Six stage of the Asia-East Asia Pacific Qualifier in Oman.
The tournament, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 6 to March 7, 2026, will feature the UAE alongside fellow Asian qualifiers Nepal and Oman.
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UAE seal T20 World Cup 2026 qualification with win over Japan
Led by captain Muhammad Waseem, the UAE put on a composed all-round display to secure their place in next year's tournament.
Their bowlers took early control after Muhammad Farooq's direct hit dismissed Japan opener Abhishek Anand, followed by Haider Ali's tight spell of 3 for 12 that left Japan struggling at 25 for 3.
Despite a late fightback from Wataru Miyauchi, who scored an unbeaten 45 off 32 balls, Japan could only post 116.
The UAE's response was swift - Waseem (42 off 26) and Alishan Sharafu (46 off 27) set the tone with an explosive 36-run start in just three overs, before chasing down the target inside 13 overs to clinch qualification.
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Nepal and Oman also make the cut
Earlier in the week, Nepal and Oman had secured their spots by confirming top-three finishes in the same qualifier. UAE's win over Japan made it mathematically impossible for Qatar and Samoa to stay in contention, finalizing the list of 20 teams for the 2026 tournament.
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