The full schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been confirmed following the conclusion of the Qualifiers in Nepal last month with five matches taking place at Headingley. Eight different nations will travel to Leeds, including a tantalising home nations match up in the group stages, with England set to take on Scotland on 20 June.
Joining tournament hosts England are Bangladesh, Ireland, the Netherlands and Scotland, who each secured their place after an intense qualification campaign that showcased the strength and depth of the women’s global game. It also marks an historic moment for the European nations as they account for a third of the competing teams in this year’s tournament.
The first match at Headingley will see Australia take on newly qualified Bangladesh, who went unbeaten in the qualifiers, on Wednesday 17 June. Later that day, an in-form India will take on the Netherlands, who are making their maiden appearance at an ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, with a squad featuring exciting talent such as Yorkshire’s Sterre Kallis, who will test her skills on the global stage against world-class Indian opposition.
Scotland’s first of two matches at Headingley will see them take on the West Indies on Thursday 18 June before taking on England two days later on Saturday 20 June, marking the first time the two countries will meet at either a women’s or men’s World Cup staged on English soil. The box-office fixture is expected to draw huge crowds, with Yorkshire and Scotland star Rachel Slater featuring alongside Kathryn and Sarah Bryce as they take on the tournament hosts.
The Australian side will then play their second match in Leeds against Pakistan in the penultimate group match, a potentially pivotal fixture in the race to the semi-finals, which will take place a week later at The Oval, London.
Beth Barrett-Wild, ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Tournament Director, said: “Huge congratulations to Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands for earning their World Cup spots through a hard-fought and competitive qualifying event. We’re delighted to now confirm our full schedule and set the stage for a tournament that will not only showcase the very best of the women’s game but also ignite some home nation rivalry when England take on Scotland at Headingley on 20 June.
“This Women’s T20 World Cup will bring world-class athletes, elite performances and unforgettable moments to fans across England and Wales. With high-quality cricket at its core, the tournament promises to be an unmissable sporting spectacle that captures hearts and minds and takes women’s cricket firmly into the mainstream.”
Scotland’s captain, Kathryn Bryce, added: “It’s going to be absolutely incredible playing at a World Cup in England and Wales. It’s probably the closest we will get to playing at home, so it’s going to be super exciting to be so close to home and give people from Scotland the chance to travel and watch and support the national team on this sort of stage.
“For the young boys and girls in Scotland who’ve been watching cricket or picked it up during the last few years, for it to now be possible for them to come and see players from their country playing in a World Cup nearby is pretty special.
“The way this World Cup has been marketed so far is great, and there’s going to be a massive push on the outreach and engagement which I think is fantastic for women’s cricket across the country, so it’s really exciting to look ahead and think about the history that is going to be made this summer.”
Netherlands and Yorkshire batter, Sterre Kalis added: “We’re so proud and excited to qualify for our first ever ICC Women’s T20 World Cup. It feels extra special because it’s so close to home for us and I’m buzzing to play at my home ground in Headingley! We’re hoping to see a sea of orange in the stands with our families, friends, fans and everyone who has supported Dutch women’s cricket over the years.
“Stepping onto that stage for the very first time will be a milestone for women’s cricket in the Netherlands, and we hope it inspires young Dutch players to dream big and believe that they, too, can one day represent a successful national team.”
Bangladesh captain, Nigar Sultana Joty, said: “We’re really happy to have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026. I’m incredibly proud of the way the team performed, dominating in every game.
“We have never played in England before so we’re excited but know it’s going to be a big challenge. We can’t wait for the big event and we’re going to prepare ourselves with everything we have, play our best cricket and win games for our country.”
ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta said: “The release of the schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is an important milestone in the run-up to the global, premier sporting event. This event is in continuation of the ICC’s sustained investment in women’s cricket – across expanded participation and high-performance pathways, event and production standards, tournament prize money, widened media distribution and commercial partnerships – towards the goal of commanding higher levels of attention, affiliation and stature with fans worldwide.
“The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in India served as a force multiplier for the sport – breaking records, capturing imaginations and inspiring communities – and our ambition is to carry the momentum into the event in June-July. The tournament also follows closely on the heels of the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, reinforcing the ICC’s commitment to creating year-round global moments for the world’s second most popular sport.
“Venues across England and Wales will serve as a wonderful stage for high-quality competitive cricket, unforgettable memories and unifying cultural experiences that define global events. We are confident that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 will be the next defining chapter in the accelerated growth of women’s cricket worldwide.”
Tickets for all matches – including the highly anticipated England v Scotland clash – are on sale now. With strong demand already recorded for key fixtures, supporters are encouraged to secure their seats early
