England to face Sri Lanka in 2026 Women's T20 WC opener

Hosts England are set to play the opening encounter of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka, as per the schedule released by the England and Wales Cricket Board on Tuesday.

The 33-match tournament is set to kickstart at Edgbaston on June 12, with the final to be played on July 5 at Lord's.

The 12 teams participating in the tournament will be split in two groups of six each, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals, both of which will be played at the Oval on June 30 and July 2, respectively.

Group 1 includes Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and two qualifying teams. Meanwhile, Group 2 includes England, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and two more qualifying teams. The marquee India vs Pakistan clash will also be played in Edgbaston, on June 14.

Apart from Lord's, Oval and Edgbaston, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Bristol County Ground and Hampshire Bowl will also host games of the World Cup. The games are scheduled to start, as per local time, at 10:30 AM, 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM.

Speaking on the tournament, England skipper, Nat Sciver-Brunt, said: "World Cups are always special, but this one already feels different - it has the potential to be truly game-changing. It's going to be a huge moment for our sport and a brilliant opportunity to inspire young people and captivate fans across the country. Playing on home soil, for the biggest prize, against the best players in the world, it's going to be unmissable. I can't wait to be a part of it."

Meanwhile, Beth Barrett-Wild, the Tournament Director, added: "The ICC Women's T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women's cricket. At iconic venues across the country, we'll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change. It's our opportunity to give women's cricket, and women's sport, the stage it deserves."

Group 1: Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Qualifier, Qualifier

Group 2: West Indies, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Qualifier, Qualifier

T20 World Cup, 2026 - Full Schedule