The USA U19 boys team is set to participate in the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup, which will be hosted in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The team secured their spot by emerging as undefeated champions in the ICC Americas qualifier held at Param Veers Sports, Rydal, Georgia, from August 9th to 16th, 2025.
The qualifier featured a round-robin format involving four teams, each team playing against the others twice to determine the regional representative for the 2026 ICC U19 World Cup. During this tournament, the USA U19 boys defeated Argentina, Bermuda and Canada twice, securing the top position and earning their place in the global competition.
Cricket’s popularity and growth in the United States have been accelerating, especially following the USA’s victory over Pakistan at home during the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The sport’s rise has been both rapid, driven by diaspora enthusiasm, grassroots initiatives, and structural efforts. The sport is gaining prominence, particularly with its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The increasing number of tournaments, youth programs and training academies across the country reflects a growing engagement among young players, supported by local groups and youth development initiatives.
Historically, the USA U19 team has participated in the ICC U19 World Cup on a few occasions. Their debut was in 2006 in Sri Lanka, where they finished in 12th place. They also competed in 2010 end up as winless, demonstrating ongoing development and competitiveness.
The upcoming 2026 ICC U19 World Cup will feature 16 teams. The top 10 teams qualification directly based on their performance in the 2024 World Cup, with Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies. Zimbabwe is serving as hosts or automatic qualification. Additionally, five teams will qualified through regional qualifiers: Afghanistan (Asia), Tanzania (Africa), Japan (Asia-Pacific), the USA (Americas), and Scotland (Europe). This expansion reflects the growing global reach of cricket and the increasing competitiveness of emerging cricket nations.