As the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup draws to a close, the tournament has reached a crucial turning point. Eight teams have officially secured their spots in the Super 8 round, while 12 others have seen their campaigns come to an end. For these eliminated teams, the journey on the field may be over—but financially, there is plenty to celebrate.

Despite failing to advance beyond the group stage, all 12 knocked-out teams will receive significant prize money from the International Cricket Council. The payout structure once again highlights the ICC’s commitment to supporting associate and emerging cricket nations, ensuring that participation in the World Cup remains financially rewarding even without progression to the knockout rounds.

Financial Relief for Eliminated Teams

The teams eliminated after the first round of the T20 World Cup 2026 include the United States cricket team, Namibia cricket team, Netherlands cricket team, Australia cricket team, Ireland cricket team, Oman cricket team, Italy cricket team, Nepal cricket team, Scotland cricket team, Afghanistan cricket team, Canada cricket team, and the United Arab Emirates cricket team.

While their exits may disappoint fans, the financial package attached to the tournament ensures that these teams do not walk away empty-handed.

Expected Prize Money Breakdown

Although the ICC has not yet released the final prize money distribution for the 2026 edition, it is widely expected to mirror the structure of the previous tournament. During the 2024 T20 World Cup, the ICC announced a total prize pool of approximately US$11.25 million, and a similar figure is anticipated this year.

Under the previous model:

• Teams finishing between 9th and 12th place received US$247,500 each, which is roughly ₹2.25 crore.

• Teams ranked between 13th and 20th earned US$225,000 each, close to ₹2 crore.

If the same framework is applied in 2026, all 12 eliminated teams will receive prize money running into millions—an important boost, particularly for associate nations that rely heavily on ICC funding to develop cricket infrastructure and player pathways.

Match-Win Bonuses Add to Earnings

In addition to placement-based prize money, the ICC also rewards teams for individual match victories. For each match won during the tournament—including group-stage and Super 8 fixtures—teams earn an additional US$31,154, or approximately ₹28 lakh.

This bonus applies regardless of whether a team advances to the knockout stages. As a result, even teams that exit early can significantly increase their total earnings by securing wins during the group phase.

Even Big Names Benefit

One of the biggest surprises of the tournament has been the early exit of major cricketing nations such as Australia. Despite their elimination, these teams still fall under the same prize money structure and will receive the same financial compensation as other teams finishing in similar positions.

This system ensures parity and reinforces the ICC’s philosophy that performance at the World Cup should be rewarded fairly, regardless of a team’s historical stature.

Focus Shifts to Bigger Rewards Ahead

With the group stage complete, attention now turns to the Super 8s, semi-finals, and final—where prize money increases substantially. The teams still in contention will compete not only for the trophy but also for significantly higher financial rewards.

For the 12 eliminated teams, however, the takeaway is clear: while the dream of lifting the T20 World Cup may be over, the financial gains from participation will provide long-term benefits and stability as they prepare for future international competitions.