The ICC has changed how the next T20 World Cup will be played. On 15 July 2026, after its annual conference in Edinburgh, it confirmed a new T20 World Cup 2028 format with a larger second round, called the Super 10, and a new knockout round, called the Eliminators. The event stays at 20 teams, hosted by Australia and New Zealand, and comes a year after India won the 2026 title.
Key takeaways
- The T20 World Cup 2028 format keeps the 20-team format and expands the second stage from 8 teams to 10.
- The group stage now uses five groups of four, with 30 matches, and the top two per group advance.
- The Super 10 are two groups of five in a round-robin, with 20 matches.
- Only the group winners go straight to the semifinals; the eliminators decide the other two spots.
- The ICC widened the stage to give emerging teams more room and keep late group games meaningful.
What is the new T20 World Cup 2028 format?
The new T20 World Cup 2028 format is a 20-team event run across four phases: a group stage, a Super 10, a set of Eliminators, and the knockouts. The old second round held eight teams; the new one holds ten.
- Group stage: five groups of four, 30 matches.
- Super 10: two groups of five, 20 matches.
- Eliminators: two crossover matches for the last two semifinal spots.
- Knockouts: two semifinals, then the final.
More teams reach the business end, and the last group games decide who skips the Eliminator. That is the point of the change.
Old format versus new format
The 2026 T20 World Cup used four groups of five, feeding a Super Eight. The 2028 event reshapes both stages and adds a knockout crossover.
| Stage | 2026 format | New 2028 format |
| Group stage | 4 groups of 5, 40 matches | 5 groups of 4, 30 matches |
| Second round | Super Eight, 12 matches | Super 10, 20 matches |
| Into semifinals | Top 2 of each Super Eight group | Top team of each Super 10 group only |
| Extra round | None | Eliminators, 2 crossover matches |
| Finish | Semifinals and final | Semifinals and final |
The old path sent four teams straight into the semi-finals. The new one rewards only the two group winners directly and makes the second and third fight it out.
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How does the T20 World Cup 2028 format work stage by stage?
The field narrows from 20 teams to ten, then to four. Here is what each stage does.
Group stage
The group stage splits 20 teams into five groups of four, with 30 matches. Each team plays the other three in its group once, and the top two from each group reach the Super 10. That gives ten teams for the second round.
When teams finish level on points, net run rate usually decides who goes through. If that tiebreaker is fuzzy, this guide explains how net run rate is calculated.
Super 10
The Super 10 is the expanded second round: two groups of five, played as a round-robin, across 20 matches. It replaces the old Super Eight. Each side plays the other four in its group, and the standings decide who goes straight to the semifinals and who drops into the eliminators.
Eliminators
The Eliminators are two crossover knockout matches for the final two semi-final spots. The team that finishes second in one Super 10 group plays the team that finishes third in the other group, both ways round. The two winners join the group toppers in the semifinals.
Semifinals and final
Only the two Super 10 group winners qualify for the semifinals directly. The two Eliminator winners complete the four, and the semifinals and final keep the usual knockout shape.
Why did the ICC change the T20 World Cup format?
The ICC widened the format to give emerging teams more room and keep group games competitive. It said the strong showing of smaller nations at the 2026 T20 World Cup encouraged it to grow the second stage from eight teams to ten, calling the goal "more meaningful contests". The Eliminators add stakes to second and third place, so the closing group matches matter. The format was approved in July, though parts of the wider 2028 plan face a final review at the ICC's November meetings.
Which teams have qualified for the 2028 T20 World Cup?
Twelve teams have already qualified based on the 2026 edition and rankings: Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. The other eight places run through a 16-team Global Qualifier, with two teams each from Africa, Asia and Europe, and one each from the Americas and East Asia-Pacific. Scotland has been given direct entry into the Europe Regional Final.
The T20 World Cup 2028 format keeps 20 teams but reshapes the road through them, growing the Super 10 to ten teams and adding eliminators to sharpen the knockouts. The ICC's aim is more room for emerging sides and fewer games that mean nothing, and a few details land at the November meetings.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the new T20 World Cup 2028 format?
It is a 20-team event with a group stage of five groups of four, a 10-team Super 10 second round, new eliminator matches, and then semifinals and a final. The ICC approved it in July 2026, and Australia and New Zealand host it.
What is the Super 10 in the T20 World Cup?
The Super 10 is the expanded second round, made up of two groups of five playing a round-robin. It replaces the Super Eight, adds two more teams to the stage, and carries 20 matches.
What are the Eliminators?
The Eliminators are two crossover knockout matches for the last two semi-final spots. The team finishing second in one Super 10 group plays the team finishing third in the other group, and the winners reach the semifinals.
How many teams are in the 2028 T20 World Cup?
Twenty teams, the same size as recent editions. The change is in structure, with the second stage growing from eight teams to ten and a new Eliminator round added.
Where is the 2028 T20 World Cup held?
Australia and New Zealand host it jointly, their first time co-hosting a men's T20 World Cup, following India and Sri Lanka staging the 2026 edition that India won.
How is it different from 2026?
The 2026 event used four groups of five and a Super Eight. The T20 World Cup 2028 format switches to five groups of four, a bigger Super 10, and Eliminators, so more teams progress and more late games matter.
Do group winners skip the Eliminators?
Yes. The winner of each Super 10 group goes straight to the semifinals. Only the second and third-finishing teams play the Eliminators, so topping your group is a clear advantage.
Has the format been fully confirmed?
The format changes were approved by the ICC Board in July 2026. Parts of the wider 2028 roadmap, including a proposed new qualifier tournament, face a final review at the November meetings.
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