The tenth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, set to be the largest ever with an expansion to 12 teams, will feature a substantial increase in prize money, with the total pool rising 10% to US$8,764,615. Kicking off on June 12 and concluding with the final on July 5 in England, the expanded tournament promises heightened competition and greater financial incentives for participating nations.
According to a statement today, the championship commences with hosts England facing Sri Lanka at Edgbaston on June 12. Group stage encounters will continue until June 28, leading into the semi-finals at The Oval on June 30 and July 2, before the ultimate showdown at Lord’s.
The tournament format mirrors that of 2024, but with each of the two groups now comprising six teams instead of five. Each side will play every other team within their group once, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals. In the knockout stage, the top-finishing team from one group will compete against the second-placed side from the other.
Group A presents a formidable lineup, including 2023 champions Australia, who are considered tournament favourites, and Cricket World Cup 2025 champions India, aiming for a white-ball global event double. South Africa, a finalist in both the 2023 and 2024 T20 World Cups, will be seeking their inaugural tournament triumph. Pakistan, Bangladesh, and debutants The Netherlands complete Group A.
Group B features defending champions New Zealand, hosts England, and 2016 champions the West Indies. Sri Lanka seeks to advance beyond the first round for the first time, while Ireland makes its fifth appearance, searching for a maiden victory. Scotland returns to the competition after their debut in 2024.
The increased prize money sees the winners taking home US$2,340,000, while the runners-up will receive US$1,170,000. Each losing semi-finalist is set to earn US$675,000, and teams will secure US$31,154 for every group-stage victory. All 12 participating teams are guaranteed a minimum prize pot of US$247,500.
England qualified automatically as hosts, alongside the top five finishers from the 2024 edition: New Zealand, South Africa, Australia, India, and the West Indies. The subsequent two spots were filled by Pakistan based on their ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings. The final four places were determined at the 2026 T20 World Cup Qualifier, held in Nepal in January and February, where Bangladesh, Ireland, The Netherlands, and Scotland emerged victorious.
Matches will be hosted across several English grounds. Edgbaston in Birmingham, Old Trafford in Manchester, and Headingley in Leeds will each host multiple group stage fixtures. The Bristol County Ground and the Rose Bowl in Southampton are scheduled for six matches each. The Oval will stage both semi-finals along with one group match, while Lord’s is designated for three group-stage encounters and the Final. Official warm-up matches are slated for Cardiff, Derby, and Loughborough.
Spectators interested in attending the event can find ticketing information at https://tickets.womens.t20worldcup.com/. The comprehensive fixture list includes key clashes such as India versus Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14 and Australia versus India at Lord’s on June 28, building towards the highly anticipated knockout stages.