Now Reading: Back-to-Back Blitz: Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups Set for 2028 With a Brand-New Format
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Back-to-Back Blitz: Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups Set for 2028 With a Brand-New Format
Back-to-Back Blitz: Women’s and Men’s T20 World Cups Set for 2028 With a Brand-New Format
Two world titles, one packed calendar. The ICC’s updated global calendar has revealed that the 2028 women’s and men’s T20 World Cups will arrive almost back-to-back, with just 11 days between them. The men’s event also gets a fresh format, and the 2030 edition has been moved to a new window.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2028: Dates and Host
Pakistan will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 from September 7 to October 1. Twelve teams will compete for the title.
The schedule was shared with member boards after a series of meetings in Dubai earlier this month. Full details on venues and individual fixtures are still to come.
Men’s T20 World Cup 2028: Dates and Hosts
Australia and New Zealand will jointly host the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, which runs from October 12 to November 12. Unlike the women’s event, it will feature 20 teams, continuing the expanded format of recent years.
With only 11 days separating the end of the women’s competition from the start of the men’s tournament, the two events will sit in consecutive windows on the calendar.
2030 Men’s Event Moves Window
The ICC has also shifted the Men’s T20 World Cup 2030. It was originally expected in June, but it will now be played in July and August. England, Ireland and Scotland remain co-hosts, as the rights were awarded earlier.
T20 World Cup 2028 Format: Explained
The men’s tournament stays at 20 teams, but the structure changes in several big ways. The 20 sides will be split into five groups of four, replacing the four groups of five used at the 2026 edition. The top two from each group move into the Super 10 stage.
Super 10 and the New Eliminators
The opening phase will produce 30 matches. The Super 10 round then features two groups of five, each played as a round-robin, adding up to 20 matches. The winners of the two groups qualify directly for the semi-finals.
The other two semi-final places will be decided in a new Eliminators round of two matches. The second-placed team from each Super 10 group meets the third-placed team from the opposite group. The winners complete the semi-final line-up, and the semis and final follow the existing format.
The ICC says the revised structure is designed to widen opportunities for emerging nations while making the later stages more competitive. It pointed to encouraging performances from developing sides at the recently concluded 2026 tournament.
2028 Tournament at a Glance
| Detail | Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 | Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 |
|---|---|---|
| Host(s) | Pakistan | Australia and New Zealand |
| Dates | September 7 to October 1 | October 12 to November 12 |
| Teams | 12 | 20 |
| Men’s Format Stage | Structure | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group stage | 5 groups of 4, top 2 advance | 30 |
| Super 10 | 2 groups of 5, round-robin | 20 |
| Eliminators | 2nd vs 3rd from opposite groups | 2 |
Which Teams Have Already Qualified for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup?
Twelve teams have secured their places for 2028, based on their results at the 2026 T20 World Cup and on the team rankings.
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- Bangladesh
- England
- India
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Pakistan
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- West Indies
- Zimbabwe
That leaves eight spots still to be filled in the 20-team field.
Why It Matters
A near-continuous run of world-class T20 cricket is coming in the autumn of 2028. The new Eliminators round also adds a fresh layer of knockout pressure, giving teams that stumble in the Super 10 a second shot at the semi-finals. For fans, that means more drama and more twists on the road to the final.
