Lord\u2019s will host the final of the next ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup on July 5, 2026.
\nOrganisers confirmed another six venues for the expanded 12-team tournament on Thursday, featuring 33 matches in 24 days. Those venues are Old Trafford, Headingley, Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, The Oval and Bristol County Ground.
\nLord\u2019s staged the final of the 50-over World Cup in 2017, when England defeated India for the title. At that edition, comprising eight teams, the other venues were Derby, Leicester, Bristol and Taunton with the latter two hosting the semi-finals.
\nA move largely to Test venues in 2026 reflects the growth in attendances and viewing figures for ICC global women\u2019s events since then. It is also in keeping with organisers\u2019 vision for that tournament, expected to be unveiled at the official launch later on Thursday, of accelerating equality and taking women\u2019s cricket into the mainstream permanently.
\nNew Zealand will be defending champions next year after winning the 10-team tournament in the UAE last October.
\nEight teams are already sure of a spot at the 2026 event, comprising two groups followed by a knockout stage, with the final four participants to be decided through a Qualifier next year.
\nAustralia, England, India, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies secured places by virtue of their performances at the 2024 edition, plus Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were the two next highest ranked teams on the ICC Women\u2019s T20I rankings table on October 21 that year.
\nSpeaking ahead of the 2026 event launch at Lord\u2019s later on Thursday, ICC Chair Jay Shah described the confirmation of venues as \u201ca defining moment\u201d.
\n\u201cThe United Kingdom\u2019s rich diversity has always shown passionate support for all teams, something we witnessed so memorably at past events,\u201d he said. \u201cThe sell-out Women\u2019s Cricket World Cup final at Lord\u2019s in 2017 remains a landmark in the rise of the women\u2019s game, and I cannot think of a more fitting stage for the final.
\n\u201cAs we turn our focus to preparing for the tournament, we are excited by the promise of thrilling T20 action that will not only captivate fans here but also serve as a showcase for cricket\u2019s return on the Olympic stage in Los Angeles 2028.\u201d
\nRichard Gould, the ECB\u2019s CEO, said: \u201cIt is of course extra special to announce that the final will be taking place at Lord\u2019s. It is one of the finest venues in world cricket and every cricketer dreams of being part of occasions like a World Cup final at Lord\u2019s.
\n\u201cThis will be the biggest women\u2019s cricket event ever staged in England and Wales and is undoubtedly an opportunity to take the game to more people than ever before and welcome in new fans – young and old.
\n\u201cWe want this competition to be part of a long-term movement, and not just a single moment in time. This World Cup will grow a new generation of fans who didn\u2019t grow up with women\u2019s cricket but will never imagine sport without it.\u201d
\nBeth Barrett-Wild, the ECB\u2019s Director of Women\u2019s Professional Game, and Rob Hillman, Director of Major Events, will act as co-tournament directors.
\nThe final of the Women\u2019s T20 World Cup in 2020 between hosts Australia and India remains a pivotal moment in the sport\u2019s history with a record 86,174 spectators at the MCG.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Lord\u2019s will host the final of the next ICC Women\u2019s T20 World Cup on July 5, 2026. Organisers confirmed another six venues for the expanded 12-team tournament on Thursday, featuring 33 matches in 24 days. Those venues are Old Trafford, Headingley, Edgbaston, Hampshire Bowl, The Oval and Bristol County Ground. Lord\u2019s staged the final of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":475935,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-475923","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n