ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026: Schedule, Groups, Venues, Teams, Format & More

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 is set to showcase the next generation of cricket stars in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The 16th edition of the tournament will run from 15 January to 6 February 2026, with 16 teams, 41 matches and five venues hosting high-intensity 50-over (ODI) cricket.

Defending champions Australia U19 will look to protect their crown, while India U19, the most successful team in tournament history with five titles, will aim to reclaim the trophy. This edition is also special because Tanzania U19 will make their debut, and Japan U19 return after last featuring in 2020.

Below is a complete, easy-to-understand breakdown of schedule, groups, venues, format, key matches, India’s fixtures, and more — based only on the information you provided.

Tournament Overview

Format Explained – Groups, Super Six & Knockouts

Group Stage

• 16 teams are divided into four groups (A, B, C, D) of four teams each.
• Each team plays the other three teams in its group once (round-robin).
• All matches are 50-over ODIs.

Super Six Stage

• The top three teams from each group (A, B, C, D) progress to the Super Six.
• 12 teams are split into two groups of six in Super Six:
  • Super Six Group AD: Top three from Group A + top three from Group D
  • Super Six Group BC: Top three from Group B + top three from Group C
• Teams carry forward points as per ICC’s Super Six rules (within the references, only the structure is mentioned; detailed points carry system is not specified).

Knockout Stage

• Top two teams from each Super Six group qualify for the semi-finals:
  • Semi-final 1: AD1 vs BC2
  • Semi-final 2: BC1 vs AD2
• Winners meet in the Final at Harare Sports Club.
• Reserve days are available for both semi-finals and the final, ensuring results even if rain interferes.

ICC U19 World Cup 2026 Groups & Teams

Groups & Teams

• India U19 are placed with Bangladesh (2020 champions), USA, and New Zealand in Group A.
• Pakistan U19 are in Group B, which means no India vs Pakistan clash in the group stage. Any meeting can only happen in Super Six or knockouts.
• Tanzania U19 feature in Group D alongside West Indies, Afghanistan, and South Africa, marking their first-ever ICC global youth tournament.

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Venues for ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026

Matches will be played across five grounds – three in Zimbabwe and two in Namibia.

• The Final will be played at Harare Sports Club, Harare.
• Opening matches are split between Queens Sports Club, Takashinga, and HP Oval.

Full Group-Stage Schedule (15–24 January 2026)

All matches start at 9:30 AM local time (1:00 PM IST).

Group Stage Fixtures

Note: A4 vs D4 is a placement/classification match between the 4th-placed teams of Group A and Group D, as per the schedule format.

Super Six Schedule (25 January – 1 February 2026)

In Super Six, teams from:

• Groups A & D combine into Super Six Group AD, and
• Groups B & C combine into Super Six Group BC.

Super Six Fixtures

Knockout Stage: Semi-Finals & Final

Some schedules format the reserve days slightly differently, but the key message is: all three knockout matches have reserved days, so weather is less likely to spoil the big games.

India U19 – Group Stage Fixtures

For fans looking specially at India U19’s path in the group stage:

India’s journey starts against USA, then a key clash against Bangladesh, and finally a big test against New Zealand to close the group stage.

Teams, Squads & Captains (As Per Current Info)

From the content you provided, we have:

• 16 participating teams confirmed.
• Groups and venues are fully clear.
• The references do not list official squads or captains for each team yet.

So, based only on your given content:

• Squads, playing XI, and captains for India U19 and other teams are yet to be officially detailed in those references.
• Teams are scheduled to arrive around 8 January and play warm-up matches from 9–14 January, where final combinations, leaders on the field, and key players will become clearer.

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What we can say safely from your content

• Australia U19 come in as defending champions after beating India in the 2024 final.
• India U19 are the most successful side in history with 5 titles and again start as one of the favourites.
• Pakistan U19, Bangladesh U19, England U19, West Indies U19, South Africa U19, New Zealand U19, Sri Lanka U19 and other full-member teams bring strong youth systems and will compete for a place in the knockouts.
• Tanzania U19 are making a historic debut, and Japan U19 are returning after their appearance in 2020, adding to the global flavour of the event.

Whenever official squads and captains are published, they can be added as separate tables or sections team-wise.

Live Streaming & TV Broadcast – What We Know From Your Content

In the references you shared:

• Live streaming platforms and TV channel names are not mentioned.

So, sticking strictly to that:

• The tournament will be an ICC global event, so it is expected to be shown by official ICC broadcast and digital partners and the respective national broadcasters in each country.
• Exact channel names, apps, and subscription details are not provided in the content you shared, so we won’t guess or fabricate them here.
• Fans will be able to follow:
  • Live coverage,
  • Highlights,
  • Match reports,
  • And updates via official cricket boards and ICC-operated platforms once those details are announced.

You can easily plug in exact channel names later once officially confirmed.

Why U19 World Cup 2026 Matters

This edition is important for several reasons:

• It continues the tradition of the U19 World Cup being a “cradle of greatness”, where future stars like Brian Lara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, Shubman Gill and others once played as teenagers.
• Tanzania’s debut reflects how cricket is spreading to new regions, while Japan’s return shows continued growth in associate nations.
• The separation of India and Pakistan in different groups adds extra drama – any clash will only come in Super Six or knockouts, making it a huge occasion if it happens.
• Playing across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia also gives young players a taste of different conditions, from Harare and Bulawayo to Windhoek.

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Conclusion

The ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 is set up to be a high-quality youth tournament featuring:

• A clear and exciting format (Groups → Super Six → Semis → Final),
• A balanced set of groups with both full members and rising associate teams,
• Five international venues across Zimbabwe and Namibia,
• A packed 41-match schedule,
• And a mix of traditional powerhouses and new entrants like Tanzania.

As squads and captains are finalised and official broadcast details are confirmed, this framework will help fans, writers, and analysts understand the full structure and schedule of the tournament in one place, in simple language.