The ICC T20 World Cup 2026 is set for February 7-March 8, 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka across eight venues. UAE has qualified for Group D and will face New Zealand in their opening match on February 10 in Chennai. The tournament features 20 teams competing across 55 matches and will be available to watch on StarzPlay in the UAE.
What you need to know about the tournament
The 2026 edition features a familiar format: 20 teams divided into four groups of five, with the top two from each group advancing to the Super 8s stage. From there, it’s straight knockouts until we crown a champion on March 8.
India will host matches at five iconic venues including Eden Gardens in Kolkata and the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, while Sri Lanka takes charge of three venues including the SSC in Colombo. It’s a proper subcontinental cricket fest, which means passionate crowds and nail-biting finishes.
The tournament kicks off with Pakistan facing Netherlands in Colombo on February 7, but all eyes will be on the India vs Pakistan clash scheduled for February 15 — also in Colombo, because the ICC knows what sells tickets.
UAE’s road to the tournament
UAE punched their ticket through regional qualifiers, led by captain Muhammad Waseem. They’ll be grouped with some serious competition: New Zealand (the 2021 finalists), South Africa (perennial contenders), Afghanistan (the dark horses), and Canada (the wildcards).
Their schedule looks challenging but not impossible:
- February 10: vs New Zealand in Chennai
- February 13: vs Canada in Delhi
- February 16: vs Afghanistan in Delhi
- February 18: vs South Africa in Delhi
Three matches in Delhi means UAE fans in the capital might get multiple chances to see their team in action — if they can secure tickets and visas, that is.
When and where to watch in UAE
As with previous cricket tournaments, the ICC T20 2026 will be available to stream on StarzPlay in the UAE. There’s ton of great content on StarzPlay other than sports and cricket if you’re eyeing a subscription.
Match times will be ideal for UAE viewers, with most games starting between 2pm and 8pm GST (India is 1.5 hours ahead of UAE). Weekend matches and public holidays in February and March mean this could be the most-watched cricket tournament in UAE for years.
Tickets and tournament prep
Tickets are available now through the ICC’s official website, though UAE fans will need to factor in travel costs to India or Sri Lanka. Group stage tickets start from reasonable prices, but expect finals tickets to command premium rates.
UAE’s squad is currently preparing with a two-match T20I series against Ireland, plus warm-up games against Nepal (February 3) and Italy (February 6). These matches should give fans a preview of the team’s form heading into the main event.