Led by wicketkeeper-batter Arjun Mahesh, the United States became the 16th and the final team to secure a berth in the U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026 to be hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The US team bulldozed past Canada, Bermuda, and Argentina in the Americas qualifier played in the double round-robinnformat at Rydal, Georgia.
USA set the tone with a 65-run win over Canada, followed by big victories against Bermuda and Argentina putting them in the driver’s seat at the halfway stage of the competition. They qualified with one game in hand against Canada.
Qualification system for U19 Men’s World Cup 2026
The top 10 teams from the 2024 edition in South Africa secured automatic qualification for the 2026 event, as well as Full Member hosts Zimbabwe.
The final five spots were decided through regional qualifiers around the world.
How did regional qualifiers go?
Africa Qualifier: Tanzania
Tanzania emerged as the winners from the African qualifiers fending off a strong Kenyan side and co-hosts Namibia.
Led by Laksh Bakrania, a handy all-rounder, Tanzania entered the qualifiers in Divison 2 and eventually won the Division 1 qualifying going against top teams in the continent.
Asia Qualifier: Afghanistan
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The Asian qualifiers got very tight as only the net run rate separated Afghanistan and Nepat at the end of the qualification.
Big wins over Oman, Hong Long, and UAE meant that Afghanistan went went through to the qualifiers with Khalid Ahmadzai leading the charge.
East Asia-Pacific Qualifier: Japan
Japan used their home advantage and went undefeated in the double round robin qualification against Fiji and Papua New Guinea.
Charlie Hara-Hinze was the standout for the Japanese side, claiming Player of the Tournament honours with 12 wickets and 92 runs across four innings.
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Nikhil Pol’s side will aim for the country’s first win at the tournament proper, having gone winless in 2020.
Europe Qualifier: Scotland
The European qualifiers saw Scotland and Netherlands battle it out on the final day in Dundee, and it was the hosts who held their nerve.
They defeated Netherlands to top the table and book their berth for the seventh time in U19 World Cup.
Teams qualified for 2026 U19 Men’s World Cup
India, Australia, Bangladesh, England, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, the West Indies, Zimbabwe, Japan, Afghanistan, Tanzania, Scotland, USA.
