UAE Defeat Japan to Book Spot in T20 World Cup 2026 Finals: Complete List of Qualified Teams

UAE join Nepal and Oman to complete the final lineup of 20 teams for the global tournament. Their qualification came at the expense of Japan, who narrowly missed out.

UAE Dominate Japan in Qualifier
Led by captain Muhammad Waseem, UAE faced Japan in the 18th match at Al Amarat on October 16, securing a comfortable victory with 47 balls to spare. Japan batted first but collapsed early, with Muhammad Arfan and Zahid Ali dismantling the middle order. Only Esam Rahman (23) and Wataru Miyauchi (45) offered resistance, helping Japan post 116 runs.

Chasing the target, UAE achieved victory in just 12.1 overs. Openers Alishan Sharafu and Muhammad Waseem added 88 runs before departing in the 8th and 10th overs, while Mayank Kumar and Rahul Chopra finished the chase with ease, sealing UAE’s World Cup berth.

Waseem Reacts to Historic Qualification
After the match, Waseem expressed his joy at leading UAE to their third T20 World Cup appearance.

“It’s a proud moment to qualify for the World Cup. The boys are really looking forward to it. Experience is key in high-profile tournaments, and playing here has been a blessing for us. I’ve always told my team that we lack some experience and exposure — now we have gained it, and we are ready,” Waseem said.

Full List of 2026 T20 World Cup Teams