Ireland will step into one of the most ambitious global showcases yet staged for women’s sport when the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 gets underway in England and Wales this week.

The tournament opens on Friday, June 12th, with England taking on Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, before 12 teams, including Ireland, compete across Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Southampton, Bristol and London, culminating in the final at Lord’s.

For Ireland captain Gaby Lewis and her squad, the proximity of the event offers the prospect of something rare at a World Cup: a strong travelling Irish support.

“The fact the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is in England this year is a really exciting prospect,” said Lewis.

“Having the competition so close to home is going to be really special, and it will be great to see as many fans as possible at all of the matches.

“Often, when you play at World Cups, they are further afield and it’s the hosts or the opposition that brings the fans to the stadiums. So, on this occasion, it will be nice to have a lot of Irish people travelling and a lot of young kids and girls supporting, who I hope have ambitions to one day play for the team.”

It is a statement that captures the Irish opportunity within what the ICC is positioning as the biggest women’s sporting event ever, not just in terms of attendance, but in digital engagement, accessibility and global reach.

There is an Irish commercial connection to the tournament as well, with SSE Airtricity’s sponsorship of the tournament placing one of the best-known brands in the Irish energy and sponsorship landscape alongside one of the biggest global events in women’s sport.

Launch

The tournament was launched in spectacular fashion this week when London’s Waterloo Bridge was transformed into a live cricket pitch for the first time in its history. Captains from all 12 participating nations stepped from a double-decker bus onto a purpose-built pitch above the River Thames, with Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye providing the backdrop.

The activation, described as a Captain’s Carnival, brought together players, fans, young participants, performers, creators and digital influencers in a high-profile statement of intent around the growth of the women’s game.

Ireland were among the 12 nations represented alongside England, India, Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

With ticket sales already around 200,000 before the tournament begins, the ICC says the event has comfortably surpassed previous Women’s T20 World Cup benchmarks.

“This is a landmark moment for women’s cricket and a fitting way to launch what we believe will be the most exciting and ambitious ICC Women’s T20 World Cup ever staged,” said Jay Shah, ICC Chairman.

“This event is another expression of the ICC’s commitment and belief linked to the agenda of building a more inclusive, global game.”

The scale of that ambition is most clearly seen in the digital plans around the tournament.

For the first time in the history of the Women’s T20 World Cup, ICC.tv coverage will be available in nine languages globally: English, Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Japanese, Thai, Dutch, Mandarin and Bahasa Indonesia.

Every match will be streamed in English and Hindi, with additional language coverage for marquee fixtures and specific audiences, including Urdu for Pakistan matches and Bengali for Bangladesh fixtures.

All games will be free to air in more than 80 territories on ICC.tv and, in another first for an ICC Women’s event, will also be shown on the ICC’s official YouTube and Facebook channels. Live radio commentary of every match, produced by the BBC, will be available globally through the ICC App.

Ambition

“Our ambition for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is to make it the biggest women’s sporting event ever,” said Sanjog Gupta, ICC CEO.

“We want to design the event as an aggregate of fan-focused experiences serving as a platform for creativity, commerce, community and culture. From attention-grabbing activations to immersive experiences aimed at deepening affiliation, there is something relevant for every fan journey.”

That fan journey will extend well beyond match coverage.

The ICC Creator Programme, which debuted during the Men’s T20 World Cup earlier this year, will return for the women’s event, giving global content creators access to exclusive events, behind-the-scenes experiences and matchday activity.

The ICC Insights AI-powered companion will also return through the ICC App, enhanced with expanded women’s cricket data and analysis, and featuring the voice of former World Cup winner and broadcaster Isa Guha.

There is a gaming element too, with the launch of ‘Catch the Spirit’ on Roblox, placing players inside a branded ICC Women’s T20 World Cup stadium where they can compete in fast-paced catching challenges and unlock tournament-themed rewards.

The Aramco Fan Vote Player of the Match will also allow supporters to vote through the ICC App for the player they believe had the greatest impact on each game.

“Our preparation has been great,” added Lewis.

“Our tri-series against Pakistan and the West Indies here at home was fantastic preparation for the girls.

“There has obviously been a change in the squad, with Laura Delany going to be a big miss, but it is excellent that we have been able to bring in someone like Alice Tector.

“There are a lot of players to look out for in our squad, and we’ve got some great youngsters. Aimee Maguire has been brilliant for us over the last couple of years, and you can’t pass over the likes of Orla Prendergast and Amy Hunter as well.

“We don’t rely on one or two players though; we’ve got a real group of match-winners. There’ll be a lot of players putting their hands up in this World Cup and winning games.”

She also pointed to the development curve of the squad over recent years, noting that many Irish players are learning at international level due to the limited domestic structures compared with larger cricket nations.

“Our average age is quite young, but I think every year that gets said, it’s actually getting higher and higher,” she said.

“The more experienced the girls get, the better they are at international cricket. We don’t have a major provincial setup that they come through, so they’re learning a lot at international level. The more games they play, the more they learn.

“They’ve come a long way in the last two years, and hopefully we can build on the last World Cup.”

There is also a wider context around the growing commercial and cultural value of women’s cricket. Increased prize money has been welcomed by players, while the scale of the ICC’s activation points to a sport increasingly confident in its ability to reach beyond traditional audiences.

“The increased prize money for the tournament is great too,” said Lewis.

“The more investment into the women’s game, the better. It’s striving to be as close to the men’s game as possible, and it’s great to see these financial increases.

“But most importantly, our focus is on winning games of cricket.”

 

Cricket Ireland is a full member of Sport for Business.

If you would like to be part of the Sport for Business community and see your organisation in our content, on our stages, and in the conversation happening every day around the commercial world of Irish Sport, email us today and let’s see what is possible.

Image Credit: ICC

 

ABOUT SPORT FOR BUSINESS

Sport for Business is Ireland’s leading platform focused on the commercial, strategic and societal impact of sport. It connects decision-makers across governing bodies, clubs, brands, agencies, and public institutions through high-quality content, events, and insights.

Sport for Business explores how sport drives economic value, participation, inclusion and national identity, and how your story can be part of ours.

Through analysis, storytelling and convening the sector, it helps leaders understand trends, share best practice and make better-informed decisions. It positions sport not just as entertainment but as a vital contributor to Ireland’s social and economic fabric.

Find out more about becoming a member today.

Or sign up for our twice-daily bulletins to get a flavour of the material we cover.

Sign up for our News Bulletins here.