The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 is headed to Africa, with Zimbabwe and Namibia taking on hosting duties. It’s a huge deal for young cricketers—this is where they get to show what they’ve got to the world. A lot of big names started here. Think of Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Babar Azam. They all played in this tournament before going on to become legends.
Tournament Schedule
The ICC U19 World Cup 2026 runs from January 15 to February 6, 2026. The tournament kicks off on January 15 with India facing the USA in Bulawayo. This is the 16th version of the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup.
| Match No. | Date | Stage | Team | Venue | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jan 15, 2026 | Group B | India vs USA | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 2 | Jan 15, 2026 | Group C | Zimbabwe vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 3 | Jan 15, 2026 | Group D | Tanzania vs West Indies | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 4 | Jan 16, 2026 | Group C | England vs Pakistan | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 5 | Jan 16, 2026 | Group A | Australia vs Ireland | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 6 | Jan 16, 2026 | Group D | Afghanistan vs South Africa | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 7 | Jan 17, 2026 | Group B | Bangladesh vs India | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 8 | Jan 17, 2026 | Group A | Japan vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 9 | Jan 18, 2026 | Group B | New Zealand vs USA | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 10 | Jan 18, 2026 | Group C | Zimbabwe vs England | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 11 | Jan 18, 2026 | Group D | Afghanistan vs West Indies | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 12 | Jan 19, 2026 | Group C | Pakistan vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 13 | Jan 19, 2026 | Group A | Ireland vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 14 | Jan 19, 2026 | Group D | South Africa vs Tanzania | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 15 | Jan 20, 2026 | Group B | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 16 | Jan 20, 2026 | Group A | Australia vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 17 | Jan 21, 2026 | Group C | England vs Scotland | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 18 | Jan 21, 2026 | Group D | Afghanistan vs Tanzania | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 19 | Jan 22, 2026 | Group C | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Takashinga Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 20 | Jan 22, 2026 | Group A | Ireland vs Japan | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 21 | Jan 22, 2026 | Group D | South Africa vs West Indies | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 22 | Jan 23, 2026 | Group B | Bangladesh vs USA | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 23 | Jan 23, 2026 | Group A | Australia vs Sri Lanka | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 24 | Jan 24, 2026 | Group B | India vs New Zealand | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| PO-1 | Jan 24, 2026 | Playoff | 16th Place Play-Off (A4 vs D4) | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 25 | Jan 25, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A1 vs D3 | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 26 | Jan 25, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A3 vs D2 | HP Oval, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| PO-2 | Jan 26, 2026 | Playoff | 16th Place Play-Off (B4 vs C4) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 27 | Jan 26, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B2 vs C1 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 28 | Jan 26, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A2 vs D1 | Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek | 10:00 AM |
| 29 | Jan 27, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B3 vs C2 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 30 | Jan 27, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B1 vs C3 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 31 | Jan 28, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A1 vs D2 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 32 | Jan 29, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A2 vs D3 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 33 | Jan 30, 2026 | Super Six Group 1 | A3 vs D1 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 34 | Jan 30, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B3 vs C1 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| 35 | Jan 31, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B2 vs C3 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| 36 | Feb 1, 2026 | Super Six Group 2 | B1 vs C2 | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| SF-1 | Feb 3, 2026 | Semi-Final | P1 (Group 1) vs P2 (Group 2) | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo | 9:30 AM |
| SF-2 | Feb 4, 2026 | Semi-Final | P2 (Group 1) vs P1 (Group 2) | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
| Final | Feb 6, 2026 | Final | Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 | Harare Sports Club, Harare | 10:00 AM |
Participating Teams
Sixteen teams compete in this World Cup. The organizers have divided them into four groups of four teams each.
| Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | India | England | Afghanistan |
| Ireland | Bangladesh | Pakistan | South Africa |
| Japan | New Zealand | Scotland | Tanzania |
| Sri Lanka | USA | Zimbabwe | West Indies |
India holds five U19 World Cup titles and always enters as firm favorites. Australia aims to defend its 2024 title. Pakistan has won this tournament twice before and has a strong young squad. Tanzania makes history as it plays its first-ever U19 World Cup.
Venues
Five venues across two countries will host the matches. Zimbabwe provides three grounds, while Namibia offers two.
| Venue | City | Country | Key Matches |
|---|---|---|---|
| Queens Sports Club | Bulawayo | Zimbabwe | Semi-Final 1, Group B & Super Six |
| Harare Sports Club | Harare | Zimbabwe | Final, Semi-Final 2, Group & Super Six |
| Wanderers Cricket Ground | Windhoek | Namibia | Group A & Super Six Group 1 |
| Takashinga Sports Club | Harare | Zimbabwe | Group C matches |
| HP Oval | Windhoek | Namibia | Group D & Playoff |
Live Streaming and Broadcast
Fans worldwide can watch the action live on various platforms. Fans should check their local listings for exact timing and channel details.
Live Streaming In India
Indian cricket fans have plenty of ways to catch the ICC U19 World Cup 2026. Star Sports owns the official rights for all ICC events in India, so they’re covering the tournament from every angle. You can watch matches on Star Sports 1 or Star Sports 1 HD if you want English commentary.
For those days when there’s more than one game happening, Star Sports 2 steps in with extra coverage. Star Sports 3 gives you even more ways to watch. And if you prefer Hindi commentary, just switch over to Star Sports Hindi or Star Sports 1 Hindi for live action in your language.
If you want to stream the matches online, Disney+ Hotstar is where you go. They’ve got every one of the 41 games live—just open the app on your phone, check their website, or use a smart TV.
You can choose the video quality that matches your internet speed so it won’t keep buffering. Missed a match? No problem. Hotstar has highlights, full replays, and plenty of expert analysis throughout the tournament.
Last Five Winners
India leads the all-time winners list with five titles. Australia follows with four titles. Pakistan has won twice, while Bangladesh, England, South Africa, and the West Indies have each won one title.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Final Venue | Final Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Australia | India | Benoni, South Africa | Australia won by 79 runs |
| 2022 | India | England | Antigua, West Indies | India won by 4 wickets |
| 2020 | Bangladesh | India | Potchefstroom, South Africa | Bangladesh won by 3 wickets (DLS) |
| 2018 | India | Australia | Mount Maunganui, New Zealand | India won by 8 wickets |
| 2016 | West Indies | India | Mirpur, Bangladesh | West Indies won by 5 wickets |
All-Time Winners Statistics
| Team | Titles Won | Years |
|---|---|---|
| India | 5 | 2000, 2008, 2012, 2018, 2022 |
| Australia | 4 | 1988, 2002, 2010, 2024 |
| Pakistan | 2 | 2004, 2006 |
| Bangladesh | 1 | 2020 |
| England | 1 | 1998 |
| South Africa | 1 | 2014 |
| West Indies | 1 | 2016 |
Key Tournament Information
Warm-Up Matches
Teams arrive on January 8, 2026. Warm-up matches run from January 9 to 14, 2026. These matches help teams prepare for the main tournament.
Format Explanation
The tournament follows a four-stage format. First comes the group stage with 24 matches. Then the Super Sixes feature 12 games. Two semi-finals decide the finalists. The grand final crowns the champion.
Notable Debuts and Returns
Tanzania makes its first-ever World Cup appearance. Japan returns after featuring in the 2020 edition. Both teams bring fresh energy to the tournament.
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Conclusion: ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Will Start from January 15
Get ready for the ICC U19 World Cup 2026—it’s shaping up to be a wild ride. Zimbabwe and Namibia are setting the stage for young talent, and you can already feel the buzz. All eyes are on future stars, with cricket powerhouses like India, Australia, and Pakistan battling it out.
There’s no shortage of places to catch the action live, wherever you are. Don’t miss a match. This is where the next generation of cricket legends takes off.
