The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 is set to be one of the most exciting editions of youth cricket ever staged. With rising stars from around the globe converging in southern Africa, cricket fans have plenty to look forward to. From young batsmen making their mark with explosive knocks to fiery fast bowlers torching batting lineups, this tournament showcases future icons of the game.
In this deep dive, we cover everything you need — from the U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule, match timings and venues to team squads, key players to watch, and live streaming details across regions.
What Makes the U19 World Cup Special?
The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup is the breeding ground for tomorrow’s cricketing superstars. Serving as a talent pipeline for national teams, the tournament’s history is rich with names that later became legends — from Virat Kohli and Steve Smith to Kane Williamson and Mustafizur Rahman.
The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 promises not only thrilling cricket but also an opportunity to spot the game’s next global stars before they take international cricket by storm.
U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule: Full Tournament Dates and Format
The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 will run from 15 January to 6 February 2026, featuring 16 teams grouped into four pools. The tournament spans multiple stages — starting with the round-robin group phase, progressing through the Super Six stage, and finishing with the semifinals and final.
Official Match Period
- Warm-up Matches: 9–14 January 2026
- Tournament Start: 15 January 2026
- Final: 6 February 2026
Tournament Format Explained
The Under 19 World Cup 2026 Schedule is built around a format that ensures every team plays a minimum number of matches.
Group Stage (Pool Matches)
16 teams are divided into 4 groups of 4. Each team plays the others in its group once, earning points for wins and ties.
Super Six Stage
The top three from each group progress. They carry forward points earned against teams that also advanced, and play against teams from other groups.
Knockouts
The top two from each Super Six group reach the semifinals. Winners of the semifinals compete in the final on 6 February.
This layered format balances fairness and excitement across early and later stages.
Venues: Where the Action Takes Place
The Under 19 World Cup 2026 Schedule includes matches played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia, taking advantage of quality cricket infrastructure in both countries.
Primary Stadiums
- Harare Sports Club — Harare, Zimbabwe
Historic venue with a reputation for balanced pitches offering batting and spin opportunities. - Takashinga Sports Club — Harare, Zimbabwe
A vibrant ground known for nurturing local talent and hosting competitive matches. - Queens Sports Club — Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
Often hosting opening matches and marquee clashes. - Namibia Cricket Ground — Windhoek, Namibia
A key venue introducing Namibian supporters to top-tier youth cricket. - High Performance Oval/HP Oval — Windhoek, Namibia
Modern ground suitable for competitive international youth fixtures.
These venues provide diverse playing conditions — from batting-friendly surfaces to balanced tracks that test bowlers — enriching the competitive landscape of the U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule.
ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 Groups
Group A: Japan, Ireland, Australia, Sri Lanka
Group B: India, Bangladesh, USA, New Zealand
Group C: Scotland, Zimbabwe, England, Pakistan
Group D: Tanzania, West Indies, Afghanistan, South Africa
Complete U19 World Cup Schedule 2026
| Date | Match | Stage | Venue | Time (IST) |
| January 15 | USA vs India | Group A | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 15 | Zimbabwe vs Scotland | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 15 | Tanzania vs West Indies | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 16 | Pakistan vs England | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 16 | Australia vs Ireland | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 16 | Afghanistan vs South Africa | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 17 | India vs Bangladesh | Group A | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 17 | Japan vs Sri Lanka | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 18 | New Zealand vs USA | Group A | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 18 | England vs Zimbabwe | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 18 | West Indies vs Afghanistan | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 19 | Pakistan vs Scotland | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 19 | Sri Lanka vs Ireland | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 19 | South Africa vs Tanzania | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 20 | Bangladesh vs New Zealand | Group A | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 20 | Australia vs Japan | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 21 | England vs Scotland | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 21 | Afghanistan vs Tanzania | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 22 | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Group B | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 22 | Ireland vs Japan | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 22 | West Indies vs South Africa | Group D | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 23 | Bangladesh vs USA | Group A | Takashinga Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 23 | Sri Lanka vs Australia | Group C | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 24 | India vs New Zealand | Group A | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 24 | A4 vs D4 | Classification | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 25 | A1 vs D3 | Super Six Group 1 | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 25 | D2 vs A3 | Super Six Group 1 | HP Oval, Namibia | 1:00 PM |
| January 26 | B4 vs C4 | Classification | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 26 | C1 vs B2 | Super Six Group 2 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 26 | D1 vs A2 | Super Six Group 1 | Namibia Cricket Ground | 1:00 PM |
| January 27 | C2 vs B3 | Super Six Group 2 | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 27 | C3 vs B1 | Super Six Group 2 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 28 | A1 vs D2 | Super Six Group 1 | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 29 | D3 vs A2 | Super Six Group 1 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 30 | D1 vs A3 | Super Six Group 1 | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 30 | B3 vs C1 | Super Six Group 2 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| January 31 | B2 vs C3 | Super Six Group 2 | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| February 1 | B1 vs C2 | Super Six Group 2 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
| February 3 | Semifinal 1 | Queens Sports Club | 1:00 PM | |
| February 4 | Semifinal 2 | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM | |
| February 6 | Final | Harare Sports Club | 1:00 PM |
ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 full squads
India: Ayush Mhatre (c), R.S. Ambrish, Kanishk Chouhan, D. Deepesh, Mohamed Enaan, Aaron George, Abhigyan Kundu, Kishan Kumar Singh, Vihaan Malhotra, Udhav Mohan, Henil Patel, Khilan A. Patel, Harvansh Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vedant Trivedi.
Australia: Oliver Peake (c), Kasey Barton, Naden Cooray, Jayden Draper, Ben Gordon, Steven Hogan, Thomas Hogan, John James, Charles Lachmund, Will Malajczuk, Nitesh Samuel, Hayden Schiller, Aryan Sharma, William Byrom, Alex Lee Young.
Ireland: Olly Riley (c), Reuben Wilson, Alex Armstrong, Callum Armstrong, Marko Bates, Sebastian Dijkstra, Thomas Ford, Samuel Haslett, Adam Leckey, Febin Manoj, Luke Murray, Robert O’Brien, Freddie Ogilby, James West, Bruce Whaley. Reserves: Peter le Roux, William Shields.
Japan: Kazuma Kato-Stafford (c), Charles Hara-Hinze, Gabriel Hara-Hinze, Montgomery Hara-Hinze, Kaisei Kobayashi-Doggett, Timothy Moore, Skyler Nakayama-Cook, Ryuki Ozeki, Nihar Parmar, Nikhil Pol, Chihaya Sekine, Hugo Tani-Kelly, Sandev Aaryan Waduge, Kai Wall, Taylor Waugh.
Sri Lanka: Vimath Dinsara (c), Kavija Gamage, Dimantha Mahavithana, Viran Chamuditha, Dulnith Sigera, Chamika Heentigala, Adam Hilmy, Chamarindu Nethsara, Sethmika Seneviratne, Kugathas Mathulan, Rasith Nimsara, Vigneshwaran Akash, Jeewantha Sriram, Senuja Wekunagoda, Malintha Silva.
Bangladesh: Azizul Hakim Tamim (c), Zawad Abrar, Samiun Basir Ratul, Sheikh Parvez Jibon, Rizan Hossan, Shaharia Al Amin, Shadin Islam, Md Abdullah, Farid Hasan Faysal, Kalam Siddiki Aleen, Rifat Beg, Saad Islam Razin, Al Fahad, Shahriar Ahmed, Iqbal Hossain. Reserves: Abdur Rahim, Debashis Sarkar Deba, Rafi Uzzaman Rafi, Farhan Shahriar, Farzan Ahmed Alif, Sanjid Majumder, Md Sobuj.
New Zealand: Tom Jones (c), Marco Alpe, Hugo Bogue, Harry Burns, Mason Clarke, Jacob Cotter, Aryan Mann, Brandon Matzopoulos, Flynn Morey, Snehith Reddy, Callum Samson, Jaskaran Sandhu, Selwin Sanjay, Hunter Shore, Luke Harrison.
USA: Utkarsh Srivastava (c), Adnit Jhamb, Shiv Shani, Nitish Sudini, Advaith Krishna, Sahir Bhatia, Arjun Mahesh, Amrinder Gill, Sabrish Prasad, Adit Kappa, Sahil Garg, Amogh Reddy Arepally, Ritvik Appidi, Rayaan Taj, Rishabh Shimpi.
England: Thomas Rew (c), Farhan Ahmed, Ralphie Albert, Will Bennison, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan.
Pakistan: Farhan Yousaf (c), Usman Khan, Abdul Subhan, Ahmed Hussain, Ali Hasan Baloch, Ali Raza, Daniyal Ali Khan, Hamza Zahoor, Huzaifa Ahsan, Momin Qamar, Mohammad Sayyam, Mohammad Shayan, Niqab Shafiq, Sameer Minhas, Umar Zaib. Reserves: Abdul Qadir, Farhanullah, Hassan Khan, Ibtisam Azhar, Mohammad Huzaifa.
Scotland: Thomas Knight (c), Finlay Carter, Max Chaplin, George Cutler, Rory Grant, Finlay Jones, Ollie Jones, Olly Pillinger, Ethan Ramsay, Theo Robinson, Manu Saraswat, Ram Sharma, Shreyas Tekale, Shlok Thaker, Jake Woodhouse.
Zimbabwe: Simbarashe Mudzengerere (c), Kian Blignaut, Michael Blignaut, Leeroy Chiwaula, Tatenda Chimugoro, Brendon Senzere, Nathaniel Hlabangana, Takudzwa Makoni, Panashe Mazai, Webster Madhidhi, Shelton Mazvitorera, Kupakwashe Muradzi, Brandon Ndiweni, Dhruv Patel, Benny Zuze.
Afghanistan: Mahboob Khan (c), Khalid Ahmadzai, Osman Sadat, Faisal Khan, Uzairullah Niazai, Aziz Mia Khil, Nazif Amiri, Khatir Stanikzai, Nooristani, Abdul Aziz, Salam Khan, Wahid Zadran, Zaitullah Shaheen, Rohullah Arab, Hafieez Zadran. Reserves: Aqil Khan, Fahim Qasemi, Izat Noor.
South Africa: Muhammad Bulbulia (c), JJ Basson, Daniel Bosman, Corne Botha, Paul James, Enathi Khitshini Tembalethu, Michael Kruiskamp, Adnaan Lagadien, Bayanda Majola, Armaan Manack, Bandile Mbatha, Lethabo Phahlamohlaka, Jason Rowles, Ntandoyenkosi Soni, Jorich van Schalkwyk.
Tanzania: Laksh Bakrania (c), Karim Kiseto, Hamza Ally, Khalidy Amiri, Abdulazak Mohamedi, Ayaan Shariff, Omary Ramadhani, Dylan Thakrar, Agustino Mwamele, Ally Hafidhi, Acrey Pascal (wk), Darpan Jobanputra, Mohammedi Simba, Raymond Francis, Alfred Daniel.
West Indies: Joshua Dorne (c), Jewel Andrew, Shamar Apple, Shaquan Belle, Zachary Carter, Tanez Francis, R’jai Gittens, Vitel Lawes, Micah McKenzie, Matthew Miller, Isra-el Morton, Jakeem Pollard, Aadian Racha, Kunal Tilokani, Jonathan Van Lange. Reserves: Brendan Boodoo, Tyriek Bryan, Earsinho Fontaine, Deshawn James.
ICC U-19 World Cup 2026 live streaming
Cricket fans worldwide will be glued to screens as matches unfold across continents. Below is a region-wise guide on how to watch live during the Under-19 World Cup 2026:
India & Subcontinent
- Televised: Star Sports Network
- Live Streaming: JioHotstar / JioStar app & website
Global Broadcast
- Australia: Amazon Prime Video
- UK & Ireland: Sky Sports
- USA & Canada: Willow TV / Sling TV
- South Africa & Africa: SuperSport
- MENA: STARZPLAY / CricLife Max
- Rest of World: ICC.tv (selected regions)
Whether you prefer traditional TV or digital OTT streaming platforms, the Under 19 World Cup 2026 Schedule ensures global access to live action.
Conclusion
The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 promises a thrilling spectacle of emerging talent, intense competition, and future cricket stars. With a packed U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule, strategic matchups across diverse venues, and comprehensive global broadcast access, fans will enjoy weeks of high-quality cricket.
Whether you’re rooting for India, Australia, England, Pakistan, or any other nation, this tournament offers memorable moments and a glimpse into the next generation of international cricketing legends.
Get ready to witness dreams take flight as the Under 19 World Cup 2026 Schedule unfolds!
FAQs
When will the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 start and end?
The ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 will take place from 15 January to 6 February 2026. The tournament spans over three weeks and includes group matches, Super Six games, semifinals, and the final.
Where is the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 being hosted?
The tournament will be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia. Matches will be played across major venues in Harare, Bulawayo, and Windhoek, offering diverse playing conditions for all teams.
How many teams are participating in the U19 World Cup 2026?
A total of 16 teams are participating in the tournament. These teams are divided into four groups, each consisting of four teams, as per the official U19 World Cup 2026 Schedule.
What is the format of the Under-19 World Cup 2026?
The tournament follows a multi-stage format:
- Group Stage
- Super Six Stage
- Semifinals
- Final
Teams earn points during the group stage, and the top performers advance through each phase according to the Under 19 World Cup 2026 Schedule.
Where can fans watch the U19 World Cup 2026 live?
In India, matches will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on JioHotstar. International viewers can watch the tournament through platforms such as Sky Sports, Amazon Prime Video, Willow TV, SuperSport, and ICC.tv, depending on their region.
Who are the teams and players to watch in the U19 World Cup 2026?
Traditional powerhouses like India, Australia, England, Pakistan, South Africa, and West Indies are expected to perform strongly. Several young players from these teams are already being tipped as future international stars, making the U19 World Cup Schedule 2026 a must-watch for cricket fans.
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