Edgbaston to host tournament opener in women’s T20 cricket World Cup

Edgbaston Stadium will host the curtain-raiser to a landmark summer of women’s cricket when tournament hosts England face Sri Lanka in the opening game of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Friday 12 June.

The venue host a total of three matchdays, with the opening game being followed two days later by a double header, with qualifiers Bangladesh and the Netherlands facing each other before India take on Pakistan later in the day.

Pakistan then take on South Africa on Wednesday 17 June.

The full schedule for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 has been confirmed following the conclusion of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in Nepal last month – officially completing the 12‑team line‑up for a month of international T20 action.

Bangladesh, the Netherlands and fellow qualifiers Ireland and Scotland, who each secured their place after a qualification campaign that showcased the strength and depth of the women’s global game, are the four teams who complete the line-up.

It also marks a historic moment for the European nations as they account for a third of the competing teams in this year’s tournament.

England will take on Scotland at Headingley on 20 June, marking the first time the two countries will meet at either a women’s or men’s World Cup staged on English soil.

The box-office fixture is expected to draw huge crowds, with Scottish stars including Kathryn and Sarah Bryce and Abtaha Maqsood taking on the tournament hosts.

Ireland kick off their World Cup campaign with an all-Celtic clash at Old Trafford, as they face Scotland on 13 June.

A trip to the south coast follows as they take on England at the Hampshire Bowl on 16 June as part of a thrilling double-header featuring current World Cup holders, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka earlier on the same day.

The qualifying quartet now join England, Australia, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies on the global stage from 12 June until 5 July across England and Wales.

ICC CEO, Sanjog Gupta said: “The release of the schedule for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is an important milestone in the run-up to the global, premier sporting event.

“Venues across England and Wales will serve as a wonderful stage for high-quality competitive cricket, unforgettable memories and unifying cultural experiences that define global events.

“We are confident that the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will be the next defining chapter in the accelerated growth of women's cricket worldwide.”