ICC Announces Europe Pathway Events for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, Finland, Cyprus and Denmark to Host Qualifiers in 2026

Media Release – ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 Europe Pathway

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the Europe qualification pathway for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, confirming that three key qualifying events will be hosted across Cyprus, Denmark and Finland in 2026. A total of 30 European nations will compete in the sub-regional qualification stage, marking a major milestone in the continued growth of cricket across the continent.

This announcement reflects the ICC’s long-term commitment to strengthening cricket in Europe, where participation, visibility and competitiveness have expanded rapidly in recent years.

Three Host Nations, Three Major Events

The pathway will feature three Sub-Regional Qualifier tournaments:

Qualifier A – Cyprus

Dates: 16–23 May 2026
Teams: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Guernsey, Jersey, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland
Cyprus will host its first-ever ICC T20 World Cup pathway event, and its first ICC global event since 2009—an important milestone for the nation’s cricketing ambitions.

Qualifier B – Denmark

Dates: 8–15 July 2026
Teams: Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Gibraltar, Hungary, Norway, Romania, Scotland, Serbia, Türkiye
After successfully hosting the U19 Europe Qualifier in 2024, Denmark will host its first senior ICC event, further solidifying its role as a growing hub for European cricket.

Qualifier C – Finland

Dates: 14–21 August 2026
Teams: Bulgaria, Czechia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Isle of Man, Israel, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain
Finland returns as a host nation after delivering two ICC events in 2022. The Finnish men’s national cricket team will compete in this group, playing in front of home supporters as the country continues building momentum for the sport.

Bigger Stage, Bigger Opportunities

The Europe pathway structure will see 30 competing nations split across the three qualifying tournaments. The top-performing teams from each group will progress to the next stage of qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

England, Ireland, Italy and the Netherlands will join the qualification pathway at a later phase due to their participation in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

ICC and Cricket Finland React

Andy Wright, ICC Regional Development Manager – Europe, highlighted the significance of the announcement:

“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 pathway will showcase the tremendous depth and development of cricket across Europe. We are delighted to partner with Cyprus, Denmark and Finland—three nations that have demonstrated strong commitment to growing the game. These events will deliver high-quality cricket and provide players with invaluable international experience.”

Cricket Finland expressed pride in once again serving as a host country.
Andy Armitage, Executive Director of the Finnish Cricket Association, said:

“As a result of hard and long-term work, in collaboration with the cities of Kerava and Vantaa, it is a great honour to have the World Cup qualifiers back in Finland. Hosting such a major event for a sport now part of the Olympic programme offers a fantastic opportunity to raise the profile of cricket and introduce it to new audiences across Finland.”