Italy Qualifies for ICC T20 World Cup 2026 for the First Time in History

Voorburg, Netherlands — In a landmark achievement for Italian cricket, Italy has secured qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for the first time in history. The team booked their spot thanks to a superior net run rate, edging out Jersey after both teams finished level on points in the Europe Region Qualifiers.

Italy concluded their campaign with five points, having won two out of four matches, with one match ending in a no result. Their historic qualification was sealed despite an 11-run defeat to the Netherlands in their final match.

The breakthrough came following Italy’s narrow but crucial win against Scotland in their penultimate match. That victory pushed them closer to qualification, and Scotland’s subsequent loss to Jersey confirmed Italy’s spot in the T20 World Cup.

Netherlands Also Qualify

In the 10th and final match of the Europe Region Final, the Netherlands comfortably chased down Italy’s total of 134-7 in just 16.2 overs, losing only one wicket. Max O’Dowd and captain Scott Edwards anchored the chase with calm and composed innings.

Earlier, Italy had chosen to bat first and posted a modest score of 134/7 in their 20 overs, with Benjamin Manenti top-scoring with 30 runs. For the Dutch, Roelof van der Merwe shone with the ball, picking up 3 wickets, while Kyle Klein added two.

The win also confirmed the Netherlands’ qualification for the T20 World Cup 2026, set to be co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India.

Scotland Misses Out

In a dramatic turn of events, Scotland, who had featured in the last four T20 World Cups since 2016, failed to qualify after losing to Jersey in a nail-biting last-ball thriller. Jersey successfully chased the 134-run target, led by a stellar performance from opener Nick Greenwood, who scored 49 off 36 balls, including seven boundaries.

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Scotland finished fourth in the standings with just three points from four matches, falling short in a campaign that required them to beat Jersey in their final game.

A Milestone for Italian Cricket

Italy’s qualification marks a historic moment in the nation’s cricketing journey and serves as a major boost for the development of the sport in non-traditional cricketing nations. The 2026 T20 World Cup promises to be more inclusive, with emerging teams like Italy stepping onto the world stage.