T20 World Cup 2026 points table explained: Groups, key dates and road to the March 8 final

Tournament overview

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 gets under way with a demanding group stage featuring 40 matches contested between February 7 and 20 across eight venues in India and Sri Lanka.

A total of 20 teams have been split into four groups of five sides, meaning each team plays exactly four matches in the preliminary round. Every win earns crucial points, and those accumulated totals – along with tiebreakers such as net run rate where required – shape the official points table throughout the league phase.

How the groups line up

Group A: India, USA, Pakistan, Netherlands, Namibia
Group B: Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Oman
Group C: England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Italy, Nepal
Group D: South Africa, New Zealand, Afghanistan, Canada, UAE

$ICC Men\u0029s T20 World Cup trophy showcase$

Road through the knockout stages

After the conclusion of the Super Eight fixtures, the four highest-ranked sides on the combined points standings advance straight into the semifinals.

Those semis form part of a high-profile week: ultimately, the tournament reaches its climax on Sunday, with the decisive showdown slated for March 8.