Women's T20 World Cup 2026 Set to Break Records with Historic Prize Fund Increase The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a significant boost to the prize money for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, marking a 10 percent increase from the 2024 edition. The tournament, set to be hosted by England and Wales, will feature 12 teams and will commence on June 12, with England facing Sri Lanka at Edgbaston. The total prize pool for the event has risen to $8.765 million (£6.528 million), reflecting the growing investment in women’s cricket and its global appeal. The winners of the 2026 tournament will receive $2.34 million (£1.74 million), while the runners-up will take home $1.17 million (£871,024). This remains the same as the 2024 prize distribution, but all 12 participating teams are guaranteed a minimum of $247,500 (£184,245), a more than double increase compared to the 2024 baseline. This expansion ensures that even teams not reaching the final stages will benefit from higher earnings, underscoring the ICC’s commitment to elevating the sport’s financial landscape. The 2024 edition, won by New Zealand, had a total prize pot of $7.958 million (£5.926 million). The 2026 tournament’s prize money reflects a 134 percent increase in the top two teams’ earnings compared to the 2023 edition, which was held in Australia. This growth highlights the ICC’s efforts to align women’s cricket with the financial standards of men’s competitions, further solidifying its position as a major global sport. The tournament will span 33 matches across 24 days, with venues spread across England and Wales. The participating teams include Australia, Bangladesh, India, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, and West Indies.#icc #england #wales #women_t20_world_cup_2026 #sanjog_gupta
Wales 1-1 Northern Ireland: Friendly Draw Amid World Cup Disappointment Wales and Northern Ireland ended their World Cup play-off heartbreak with a 1-1 draw in a lackluster friendly at Cardiff City Stadium. The match, which took place on 31 March 2026, saw both teams struggle to find rhythm as they grappled with the emotional aftermath of their respective exits from the tournament. Wales fell behind midway through the first half when Jamie Donley, on loan at Oxford United, capitalized on a rebound after his initial header against the post. Wales equalized just minutes into the second half through Sorba Thomas, who bundled in from David Brooks’ deflected shot. The game, which was widely regarded as a necessary but unexciting fixture, was marred by a subdued atmosphere and a lack of intensity. Both teams had lost their World Cup semi-final matches—Wales to Bosnia-Herzegovina on penalties and Northern Ireland to Italy—leaving them with little motivation to perform at their best. Craig Bellamy’s Wales side, known for their possession-heavy style, failed to create meaningful chances despite dominating the ball. Their defending was sloppy, allowing Donley to exploit a gap in the center-back line. Ben Cabango, Wales’ center-back, lost sight of Donley, enabling the Tottenham Hotspur forward to score. Cabango did not return for the second half, though his teammates showed renewed energy after the break. Northern Ireland’s performance was more composed, with their traveling supporters in Cardiff offering a modest show of support despite the Irish FA’s refund offer for those hoping the match would be a World Cup decider. The visitors’ defense held firm in the first half, though they struggled to break down Wales’ organized structure.#northern_ireland #michael_oneill #wales #cardiff_city_stadium #craig_bellamy
Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland aim for 2026 World Cup result: European playoffs as they happened Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland faced devastating setbacks as their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup were extinguished in a single night of UEFA playoff matches. All three teams sought to join England and Scotland in the tournament but were eliminated by Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, and the Czech Republic, respectively. The Republic of Ireland began strongly, taking a 2-0 lead in Prague. Troy Parrott opened the scoring with a penalty in the 19th minute, and goalkeeper Matej Kovar accidentally doubled the advantage with an own goal four minutes later. However, a controversial incident involving Ryan Manning, who pulled back the shirt of Ladislav Krejci in the box, gifted the Czech Republic a free kick. Patrik Schick capitalized, equalizing just moments after the restart. The Republic of Ireland regained control, with Jayson Molumby hitting the post in a missed chance. As the game entered the final minutes, Krejci headed home from a corner to force extra time. The match went to penalties, where Caoimhín Kelleher made the first save, but Czechia’s persistence saw them advance. Wales followed a similar path, with Dan James scoring a stunning goal in the 50th minute to give them a 1-0 lead. However, Bosnia and Herzegovina struck in the same minute as Krejci’s goal, with Edin Dzeko equalizing. The match went to penalties, where Karl Darlow saved the first spot-kick, but Brennan Johnson’s miss and Neco Williams’ saved effort handed Bosnia the victory. In Bergamo, Italy dominated against Northern Ireland, with Sandro Tonali breaking the deadlock in the 56th minute.#czech_republic #italy #wales #republic_of_ireland #bosnia_and_herzegovina
Wales, Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland aim for 2026 World Cup LIVE: Latest updates from European playoffs Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland are competing in the European playoffs to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with live updates tracking their progress toward joining England and Scotland in the global tournament. The teams are vying for one of four remaining spots in the finals, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada. Sixteen European nations are set to battle for the final four World Cup berths, with the playoffs structured as a series of knockout matches. The competition has drawn significant attention, as teams like Italy, which missed out on qualification in the past two cycles, are now aiming to reclaim their place. The format involves a combination of group stages and head-to-head matches, with the winners advancing to the final round of qualifiers. The Republic of Ireland, Wales, and Northern Ireland are among the teams with strong chances to progress, but they face tough challenges. Wales will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in a critical tie, where the outcome could be decided by key players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey. Northern Ireland’s campaign will depend on their ability to maintain consistency, while the Republic of Ireland must navigate a difficult path to ensure they secure their place in the World Cup. The playoffs are expected to generate intense competition, with teams from across Europe vying for a chance to represent their nations on the world stage. Fans and analysts are closely following the matches, as the results will determine which teams will join the host nations in the 2026 tournament.#fifa_world_cup #northern_ireland #wales #republic_of_ireland #european_playoffs
World Cup Play-Offs: Key Teams and Matchups to Watch The World Cup play-offs begin on Thursday, with four European spots up for grabs for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The competition features 16 teams, including the 12 second-place finishers from World Cup qualifying groups and the four top-ranked Nations League group winners who missed out through qualification. The draw divides the teams into four paths, each with four teams, and includes one-legged semi-finals and finals. Northern Ireland, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland have never all qualified for the same World Cup, adding intrigue to their play-off journeys. Northern Ireland, last at the World Cup in 1986, faces Italy in their semi-final. A victory over Italy would set up a potential final against Wales, which hosts Bosnia-Herzegovina. Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill has praised the venue in Bergamo, stating it suits his team better than iconic stadiums like San Siro or the Stadio Olimpico. Wales, aiming for a second consecutive World Cup, will face Bosnia-Herzegovina at Cardiff City Stadium. Their manager, Craig Bellamy, described the opposition as a "different beast," though Wales has not won any of their previous four encounters with Bosnia. Sweden, despite a star-studded squad including Alexander Isak, Viktor Gyokeres, and Anthony Elanga, faces a tough path. The team finished bottom of their qualifying group but secured a play-off spot by topping their Nations League pool. They will travel to Valencia to face Ukraine at a neutral venue due to the war in Ukraine. Manager Graham Potter, who previously led Swedish club Ostersunds FK to a historic Cup win in 2017, returns to his homeland after managing Chelsea and West Ham.#italy #northern_ireland #world_cup_playoffs #wales #republic_of_ireland
