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Rome, July 7 – In a surprising and historic turn of events, Italy has qualified for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for the very first time, stunning the global cricketing community. Known as a football powerhouse and four-time FIFA World Cup champion, Italy will now make its debut on cricket’s biggest T20 stage in 2026.

Italy secured its place in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup — to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka — after finishing second in the European regional qualifiers. The tournament marked a significant breakthrough for the Italian cricket team, which had never before reached this level.

Despite its rich footballing history, Italy has struggled in recent FIFA World Cup campaigns, failing to qualify for both the 2018 and 2022 editions. However, while Italian football has faced setbacks, the nation’s cricket team has delivered a reason to celebrate.

In the ICC T20 World Cup Europe Qualifier 2025, Italy finished second among five competing nations to clinch one of the two qualifying spots. Although Italy suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat to the Netherlands in their final group match, their superior net run rate (+0.612) edged out Jersey (+0.360), securing Italy's place in the World Cup.

Notably, Italy registered a historic victory over Scotland — a more experienced side with multiple World Cup appearances — marking their first-ever win against Scotland in any cricket format. This upset played a crucial role in Italy’s qualification campaign.

Jersey, too, pulled off a surprise win over Scotland in their final match, winning by one wicket and briefly keeping their qualification hopes alive. However, their dreams were dashed when Italy's net run rate remained higher, thanks in part to restricting the Netherlands from a quicker win in the final game.

As a result, the Netherlands and Italy have booked their tickets to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Scotland, despite being a strong contender, failed to make the cut after suffering back-to-back losses against Italy and Jersey.

Italy’s unexpected rise in international cricket is a testament to the sport’s growing footprint in non-traditional cricketing nations. With this qualification, Italy has not only made history but also inspired a new generation of cricketers and fans across Europe.