Channel Islands Clash as Jersey Faces Guernsey in T20 World Cup Qualifiers

Jersey and Guernsey both come into this matchup in a must-see matchup. This thrilling match was the start of the first round of qualifying for the 2028 T20 World Cup! That leaves the two Channel Island sides to face each other in Qualifier A. This thrilling week-long event will occur in Pafos, Cyprus from May 16-23. This meeting expands that story together in a new, unexpected direction. In their previous meeting, back in July, Jersey were well beaten winners by 22 runs.

Both teams have shown impressive form recently. Earlier this summer, they reached the final qualification round for the 2026 T20 World Cup, showcasing their abilities on the international stage. Jersey’s campaign has been accomplished, effective and drawn Jersey to the final embargo for every T20 World Cup in five out of the last six editions. This accomplishment cements their identity as one of the dark horse contenders in European cricket.

Jersey’s recent 4-0 win against Scotland is confirmation of their potency, and only adds to their growing momentum heading into the qualifiers. Scotland, though, will be moving on to play in Qualifier B, which will take place in Denmark next July. This division of qualifiers emphasizes the competitive nature of European cricket as teams vie for a spot in the prestigious tournament.

In Qualifier A, Jersey and Guernsey will face strong opposition. They will join Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Malta, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland in the second round. In UEFA’s modified process, the group winners of this smaller group will proceed to the ultimate spherical of European qualification. From there, they’ll join Italy, Ireland, and the Netherlands—all of whom have already qualified—to hold their places for the T20 World Cup in 2026.

This year’s qualifying process has been particularly meaningful for Guernsey. They are entering this arena as first-time qualifiers for the T20 World Cup. Their inclusion with Jersey is a testament to the increasing strength of cricket across the Channel Islands. This provides an important opportunity for both teams to showcase their strengths on an international stage.