The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027 kicks off on January 21, as Bangladesh and Nepal are all set to host the third edition of the tournament. Sixteen teams are set to battle it out for the prestigious title.

The event, which was first held in 2023, will see 41 matches in four venues in the two countries. Teams have been split into four groups of four, with the defending champions India set to face the West Indies in their opening match in their quest for a second consecutive title.

ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027: Groups and venues

The group-stage matches will be held at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium, Chattogram; Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet; TU International Cricket Stadium, Kathmandu; and Upper Mulpani International Cricket Ground, Kathmandu.

The 16 participating teams have been seeded into the following four groups:

Group A – India, Ireland, West Indies, Nepal

Group B – South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, Samoa

Group C – Australia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, United Arab Emirates

Group D – England, Sri Lanka, United States of America, Scotland

The opening day on January 21 will see four matches with eight teams, including co-hosts Bangladesh against the United Arab Emirates.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta pointed out the tournament's importance in the development of women's cricket and its ability to offer young players a valuable international experience.

“The ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup plays an important role in the development of women's cricket, providing young players with the opportunity to play at the highest level in their age group and gain experience on the global stage,” Gupta said.

He noted that the 16 teams coming together in Bangladesh and Nepal would highlight the growing depth of talent in the women's game, as well as offer opportunities for players from both established and emerging cricketing nations.

Gupta also stressed that international tournaments at the youth level are essential to the global game and an opportunity to introduce cricket to new audiences. He was confident in the preparations of the two host nations and wished all the participating teams well ahead of the competition.

ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup 2027: Format and knockout schedule

The group Stage will continue until the 26th of January, after which the qualifiers will enter the Super Six Stage. The teams that qualify from the initial groups will be divided into two Super Six groups, from which the top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals.

The semi-finals have been scheduled for the 4th of February at the Bir Shrestha Shahid Flight Lieutenant Matiur Rahman Cricket Stadium in Chattogram. The 5th of February has been reserved for the knock-out matches.

The final of the tournament has been scheduled for the 6th of February at 1:30 PM local time, with the 7th of February being reserved for a possible reserve day.

With 16 teams competing across Bangladesh and Nepal, the tournament is expected to offer a key platform for the next generation of women cricketers to showcase their skills and gain valuable experience in an international competition.