The United Arab Emirates (UAE) cricket team has officially secured its place in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after an impressive victory against Japan in Al Amarat. The team won by eight wickets, finishing among the top three in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific qualifier and joining Nepal and Oman as the final teams to qualify for the global event.
UAE captain Muhammed Waseem expressed pride and confidence in his team’s achievement, saying it was a special moment for the players and the country. “We played like a champion team here,” he said in a video released by the International Cricket Council (ICC). “I believe my team will perform even better in the upcoming matches and the World Cup.”
The victory ended the qualifying hopes of Japan, Samoa, and Qatar. With this success, UAE will now prepare to compete on the world stage when the T20 World Cup takes place in India and Sri Lanka next year.
The 2026 tournament will feature 20 teams. Along with hosts India, former champions England and Australia have already qualified automatically, as have the top seven teams from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The United States earned its spot through a top-seven finish in the 2024 edition, which it co-hosted with the West Indies. Canada, Italy, and the Netherlands secured their places through regional qualifiers, while Namibia and Zimbabwe booked their spots from the Africa region.
The ICC has not yet released the official schedule, but the tournament is expected to be held between February and March 2026. India will enter the event as the defending champion.
