Italy tour of Ireland: Three-match T20 series ahead of 2026 T20 World Cup
Ireland and Italy will play a three-match T20I series in Dubai in January 2026 as part of their preparation for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Check full schedule, venues, head-to-head stats and key details.
Cricket Ireland and the Italian Cricket Federation have jointly announced a three-match bilateral T20 International series set to take place in Dubai in late January 2026. The series will act as crucial preparation for both teams as they gear up for their respective campaigns in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Ireland and Italy have faced each other only once before in a T20I – during the 2023 European Qualifier in Edinburgh, where Ireland secured a tight seven-run win. The sides also met in a non-T20I Twenty20 match in Abu Dhabi back in 2012, which Ireland won by two wickets.
The upcoming fixtures will be historic for Italy, marking their first-ever three-match bilateral series against an ICC Full Member. For Ireland, the games come immediately after the announcement of two additional T20Is against the UAE, forming a full preparatory block in Dubai before the World Cup.
Ireland vs Italy T20I Series Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2026 | 1st T20I | Sevens Stadium, Dubai | 10:00 AM |
| 25 January 2026 | 2nd T20I | Sevens Stadium, Dubai | 10:00 AM |
| 26 January 2026 | 3rd T20I | Sevens Stadium, Dubai | 6:00 PM |
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Both teams eye strong preparation before their World Cup campaigns
Following the series, Ireland will also meet the UAE on 29 and 31 January before travelling to Sri Lanka for the World Cup, where they find themselves in Group B alongside Australia, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Oman. Italy, meanwhile, head to India for the tournament and will compete in Group C against England, the West Indies, Bangladesh and Nepal.
Cricket Ireland’s Director of Cricket, Richard Holdsworth, said the series offers ideal match practice in hot conditions after coming out of the Irish winter. Italian federation president Maria Lorena Haz Paz termed the series “historic” and believes it will help raise the profile of Italian cricket as they prepare for their maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
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