USA? Namibia? Or last-minute entrants Scotland? Which Associate Nation will go the furthest at 2026 T20 World Cup?

A World Cup, in most sports, is the pinnacle. The stage where the very best compete against the very best to be adjudged the best of them all. The usual suspects, when these tournaments roll in, dominate much of the discourse. People debate whether these teams or players have the wherewithal to last the distance or if they will fall by the wayside when the temperature and the pressure is amped up.

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But every once in a while, some of the more unheralded sides make a splash. Think Morocco at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Or South Korea at the 2002 iteration they co-hosted. Or Turkey at that same edition. Or Afghanistan at the 2024 T20 World Cup. Or indeed Kenya at the 2003 ODI World Cup.

These are not very regular occurrences. When they do materialise, though, World Cups feel much more…complete. And the upcoming T20 World Cup boasts those possibilities too. Although the Associate nations, especially in a 20-team World Cup, have their work cut out.

When Afghanistan made the semi-final in 2024, they were not an Associate team. Far from it actually. They had several players plying their trade in numerous T20 franchise leagues around the globe. And that only highlights how tough it is for teams to break the established order.

Can the United States complete a double against Pakistan?

The United States of America, though, did cause a flutter by dumping Pakistan out of contention in 2024. They could not carry that momentum through into the Super Eight, but that performance is probably the benchmark Associate teams might seek to emulate in the coming weeks.

USA, since then, seem to have gotten stronger, with more of their players playing greater roles in Major League Cricket (MLC). In Monank Patel, they have a captain who can be a point-of-difference, with Saurabh Netravalkar, who starred last time out, a capable match-winner as well.

They are, however, clubbed with India and Pakistan (again). Netherlands, who achieved automatic qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup, are also part of that group and might find it equally difficult to get past India and Pakistan, even though Pakistan, as things stand, are boycotting their game against India and are prepared to take a huge NRR hit in the process (among other things, of course).

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Namibia are the fifth team in the group and did impress en route a win against South Africa in October 2025. But a lot for them will depend on how captain Gerhard Erasmus, all-rounder JJ Smit and opener Jan Frylinck fare.

Scotland aim to make their presence felt after last-minute entry

Then there is Scotland. A team that came very close to making the Super Eight in 2024. They would not have been here at all had Bangladesh not refused to play their matches in India. But they are now. And they will have to switch on instantly.

If Scotland manage that, they have the players to cause an upset, even if ring-rust could be an impediment. Former New Zealand batter Tom Bruce is part of the side, having qualified via his Scottish ancestry. Brandon McMullen, through franchise T20 league gigs, has also evolved into a top-notch all-rounder, who can win matches single-handedly.

Scotland have England, Italy, Nepal and the West Indies in their group. England and WI will obviously start as favourites but with Nepal not playing very far from home, and with Italy a bit of an unknown quantity, not to mention the eccentricity normally attached to a West Indian side, a couple of surprises could be in the offing. Although that will need the three Associate nations to be at the top of their game.

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Over in Group B, Oman are sandwiched between Australia, Ireland, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe. Meaning they will have to play out of their skin to have any hope.

In Group D, Canada and the UAE are the Associate flag-bearers but they have Afghanistan, South Africa and New Zealand to contend with. UAE could set the cat among the pigeons, especially if Muhammad Waseem takes off in those games, but putting together a coherent display across 40 overs to outlast one of the more established sides will be a different kettle of fish altogether.

And that is why that this could be an arduous outing in general for the Associate nations. Most of them look in better fettle than a couple of years ago, but a case could be made that the really good teams, the likes of Australia, India, England and South Africa have taken the T20 format to another level, especially in boundary-hitting and run-scoring terms.

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There may be a couple of upsets here and there, if there are rain-affected games or if some of the more fancied sides have wretched outings. But those could just be aberrations. Meaning that those glorious underdog stories, of teams punching above their weight and upsetting the usual apple cart, might just have to wait.

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