LONDON, APRIL 13 — The International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a record-breaking prize money pool of $8,764,615 for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Monday. The announcement comes exactly 60 days before the tournament is set to begin in England and Wales, marking a 10 percent increase from the 2024 edition.
Under the new financial structure, the winning team will earn $2,340,000, while the runners-up are slated to receive $1,170,000. For the first time in the tournament’s history, the field will expand to 12 competing nations, with each participating team guaranteed at least $247,500. Additionally, the ICC confirmed that every group-stage victory will fetch teams $31,154.
“The growth of women’s cricket continues to accelerate,” ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta affirmed. “The expansion to 12 teams, combined with a record prize pool, underlines our commitment to building a stronger, more competitive global game.”
The tournament is scheduled to commence on June 12 at Edgbaston in Birmingham, with hosts England facing Sri Lanka. Group A includes 50-over champions India alongside Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, Netherlands, and Bangladesh. Defending champions New Zealand will compete in Group B against England, Ireland, Scotland, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
To mark the countdown, the ICC also launched the Trophy Tour at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Gupta maintained that the event is expected to set new attendance and viewing records, further reflecting the growing influence of female athletes within the global sports ecosystem.
