2026 ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup Kicks Off in Harare

The 2026 ICC Men's Under-19 Cricket World Cup is set to begin on Thursday, with hosts Zimbabwe taking on Scotland at the Takashinga Sports Club in Harare. This marks the 16th edition of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

A total of 16 teams will compete for honors, with the competition running until February 6. Zimbabwe has been drawn in Group C alongside Scotland, England, and two-time champions Pakistan, who are considered the pool favorites.

The Young Chevrons are making history by featuring in the tournament as hosts for the first time, and captain Simbabrashe Mudzengerere believes home conditions could work in their favor. "I can say there's a little bit of pressure being hosts, but it's also very good playing in familiar conditions, knowing the wickets and fields we've played on before," said Mudzengerere.

"We've spent the last two years preparing for this World Cup, and hopefully, we can end up lifting the trophy. The potential in this team is high. We might actually surprise a lot of people."

The tournament will be played across five venues in Zimbabwe and Namibia. Zimbabwe will host 25 matches, including both semi-finals and the final, while Namibia will stage 16 matches. The semi-finals will be held on February 3 and 4, with the final scheduled for February 6 at Harare Sports Club.

Groups

The 16 teams have been divided into four groups:

- Group A: Australia, Ireland, Japan, Sri Lanka
- Group B: Bangladesh, India, New Zealand, USA
- Group C: England, Pakistan, Scotland, Zimbabwe
- Group D: Afghanistan, South Africa, Tanzania, West Indies