New Delhi: Italy have secured the qualification for their maiden appearance in the T20 World Cup in their history. They will play at the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup despite losing by nine wickets to Netherlands at The Hague. The Netherlands have also qualified for the tournament after they comfortably chased 135.
The presence of Joe Burns, who is eligible to play for Italy through his mother’s heritage has been pivotal for the side. Burns has four Test centuries in 23 matches for Australia which has added experience and composure to the Italian lineup.
Italy’s squad also featured Grant Stewart, a former Kent cricketer with extensive experience in England’s county circuit, and Emilio Gay, who played for England Lions just last month, scoring 71 against India A in a four-day match. Gay’s quickfire 50 was crucial in Italy’s upset victory over Scotland, a regular participant in ICC tournaments.
Additionally, Jaspreet Singh, an Indian-origin medium pacer with 23 T20Is under his belt added depth to Italy’s bowling attack during the qualifiers.
Forza Italia: World Cup Bound 🏆
Italy have qualified for their first-ever T20 World Cup! Despite a defeat to the Netherlands, their superior net run rate seals the deal. The Dutch also power through, topping the European Qualifiers 💪#T20WCQualifier pic.twitter.com/QE3N1kXl5R
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 11, 2025
Scotland got knocked out after a last-ball defeat against Jersey. They do featured in the last four editions of the T20 World Cup but this time fell short to make it through. Despite winning, Jersey was also knocked out, as they were levelled on points with Italy, but Italy had a superior net run-rate, securing them tickets to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
So far, fifteen teams have qualified, with three more teams to qualify from East-Asia Pacific, while two teams will make it through from the Africa qualifier.
A new sporting dawn for Italy
While Italy’s football team continues its struggle to secure a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after missing out in 2018 and 2022, the cricket team’s success offers a refreshing narrative for the country’s sporting enthusiasts.
This historic qualification is more than just a ticket to the World Cup as it signifies the growing reach of cricket across Europe. As Italy prepares for their T20 World Cup debut fans will be eager to see what the Azzurris hold as they made it through the cut on net run rate.