Champions League T20 to return as World Club Championship from 2026

The World Club Championship, a new, global successor to the long-discontinued Champions League T20 (CLT20), is set to make its return in 2026. The tournament is designed to be bigger, bolder, and more inclusive as it aims to bring champion teams from the world’s leading T20 leagues, offering fans a spectacular showcase of inter-league clashes.

Franchise champions from major leagues such as the Indian Premier League (IPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), Big Bash League (BBL), SA20, and The Hundred are expected to take part in the global event, as per a report from The Cricketer.

The proposed championship has already received strong backing from top cricketing authorities, including the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and ICC Chairman Jay Shah.

In a notable development, the ECB has expressed its intention to send the champion team from The Hundred rather than the Blast to represent England while reflecting the growing nature of the newer format.

ECB CEO Richard Gould confirmed that plans for the World Club Championship are nearing finalisation and also hinted at the potential launch of a women’s version of the tournament in the future.

“That is on the cards. Without a doubt, at some point, there will be a World Club Championship for both men and women. That's the next logical step,” Gould said.

The format of the upcoming World Club Championship is expected to closely resemble that of the original Champions League T20 (CLT20). It was originally launched in 2009, and brought together top domestic T20 teams from various nations.

However, the tournament was discontinued in 2015 due to several challenges, including poor television ratings, lack of sponsorship, and an imbalance in team representation, with IPL franchises often dominating the competition. Notably, Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings each lifted the CLT20 trophy twice.

In today’s cricketing landscape, nearly every major cricket-playing nation has developed its own successful T20 franchise league. The fans engagement has risen, making the global T20 ecosystem more vibrant. Countries like India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa, England, West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, the UAE, and the USA now host established domestic T20 competitions. The United States has emerged as a growing hub for T20 cricket with the introduction of Major League Cricket (MLC).

Similarly, Guyana recently launched the Global T20 Super League, featuring teams such as Guyana Amazon Warriors (CPL), Rangpur Riders (BPL), Lahore Qalandars (PSL), Hampshire (Vitality Blast), and Victoria (Australia).

With T20 cricket experiencing explosive growth across continents, the timing seems ideal for a global franchise event like the World Club Championship to make its return.