UAE qualify for T20 World Cup 2026 after dominant win over Japan

United Aram Emirates (UAE) have sealed their spot at the T20 World Cup 2026 after securing an emphatic eight-wicket victory over Japan. The crucial match took place on Thursday during the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier, held in Al Amerat, Oman.

UAE become the 20th team to qualify for T20 World Cup 2026

This victory makes the UAE the final team to qualify for next year’s tournament, set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka. They join Nepal and Oman, both of whom secured their places just a day earlier. In the current standings, Nepal tops the Super Six table with four wins, closely followed by Oman with three.

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How the UAE vs Japan's match unfolded?

Needing a victory to confirm their spot in the T20 World Cup, the UAE delivered a clinical performance against Japan. After opting to field first, the UAE bowlers quickly took control, restricting Japan to a modest total of just 116 for nine in their 20 overs. Japan’s innings found some resistance from wicketkeeper-batter Wataru Miyauchi, who scored a quickfire 45 off 32 balls, hitting three boundaries and two sixes to give his team a semblance of respectability. Bowler Haider Ali was the star, claiming three wickets in his four-over spell, with Muhammad Arfan chipping in with two key dismissals.

In response, the UAE openers, Alishan Sharafu and captain Muhammad Waseem, made light work of the target. The duo put on a blistering 70-run stand in just seven overs, immediately setting the tone for a swift chase. Waseem smashed 42 off 26 balls, laced with eight boundaries, while Sharafu nearly reached a half-century, scoring 46 off 27 balls with four fours and three sixes. Rahul Chopra finished the job in style, hitting two sixes in his unbeaten 14 off six balls to emphatically seal the eight-wicket victory and confirm the UAE’s berth in the T20 World Cup.

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The T20 World Cup 2026 will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka next February and March, will feature 20 teams. Both India and Sri Lanka secured automatic qualification as the host nations. Additionally, all eight teams that reached the Super Eight stage of the 2024 edition earned direct berths. Three more teams—Ireland, Pakistan, and New Zealand—clinched their spots based on being the highest-ranked teams outside of the automatic qualifiers.

The remaining eight spots were filled through continental qualification tournaments. These qualifiers allocated one spot to the Americas, two each to Africa and Europe, and three to the combined Asia and East Asia-Pacific regions. Overall, the tournament field will feature the most teams from Asia, with eight representatives. Europe will contribute four teams, Africa three, and both Oceania and the Americas will have two each.

Teams who have qualified for T20 World Cup 2026:

The mega-event will mark the second time both nations have hosted the T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka previously held the tournament in 2012, and India hosted the 2016 edition. The exact dates and venues for next year's tournament are yet to be confirmed.