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The ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2026 begins today, January 15, with co-hosts Zimbabwe and Namibia welcoming the world’s best young cricketers for the 16th edition of the tournament.
Spread across three weeks and five venues, the competition will feature 16 teams battling not only for the title but also for a chance to announce themselves as cricket’s next generation of stars.
The final will be played at the Harare Sports Club on February 6.
The Under-19 World Cup has long been regarded as a launchpad for elite careers, with players like Virat Kohli and Steve Smith having made their first global impression at this level.
Australia arrive as defending champions after beating India in the 2024 final, though history suggests form and reputation offer no guarantees in youth cricket.
India remain the tournament’s most successful side with five titles, followed by Australia with four. Pakistan are the only other team to have won the trophy more than once, lifting it in 2004 and 2006.
The opening day features a triple-header, with India facing the USA in Bulawayo, hosts Zimbabwe taking on Scotland in Harare, and Tanzania meeting the West Indies in Windhoek.
Tanzania’s appearance marks their debut at the Under-19 World Cup, while Japan return to the tournament for the first time since 2020, underlining the game’s expanding global footprint.
The 16 teams are divided into four groups of four. From each group, the top three teams progress to the Super Six stage. The teams finishing fourth move into placement matches.
The Super Six is split into two groups. Teams carry forward points, wins and net run-rate earned against other qualifying teams from their group. Each side then plays two additional matches against teams from a different group.
From there, the top teams advance to the semi-finals, followed by the final on February 6.
Group A features heavyweights India alongside Bangladesh, New Zealand and the USA.
Group B pairs Pakistan with England, Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe, setting up a potentially tricky campaign for all sides involved.
Defending champions Australia headline Group C with Sri Lanka, Ireland and Japan, while Group D brings together South Africa, West Indies, Afghanistan and debutants Tanzania.
The tournament will be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Namibia hosts 16 matches, all in Windhoek at the Namibia Cricket Ground and the High Performance Oval.
Zimbabwe hosts 25 matches, including both semi-finals and the final. Harare Sports Club and Takashinga Sports Club will stage matches in the capital, while Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo adds history and character.
The semi-finals will be played on February 3 and 4, with the final returning to Harare Sports Club on February 6.
A total of 24 group-stage matches will be played, with all games starting at 9:30 am local time and 12:30 PST (Pakistan Standard Time).
Pakistan begin their campaign on January 16 against England in Harare.
They then face Scotland on January 19 before wrapping up the group stage against hosts Zimbabwe on January 22.
It is a testing schedule, but also a great opportunity to build momentum early.
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