The World Championship of Legends (WCL) returns for Season 3 in 2026 with seven national teams featuring some of cricket’s biggest former stars. The tournament will run from 3 October to 18 October 2026 across venues in the UAE, including Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
India Champions won the inaugural WCL title in 2024, while South Africa Champions claimed the Season 2 trophy. Bangladesh Champions will make their WCL debut in Season 3, adding a new rivalry to the tournament. The complete 2026 schedule, teams and venue details are updated below.
WCL Season 3 – Complete Overview
The World Championship of Legends Season 3 will bring together legendary cricketers from seven nations in a fast-paced T20 tournament.
| Tournament Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | World Championship of Legends (WCL) Season 3 |
| Format | Twenty20 (T20) |
| Host Country | United Arab Emirates (UAE) |
| Participating Teams | 7 |
| Total Matches | 22 |
| Tournament Duration | 3 October 2026 – 18 October 2026 |
| League Stage | Round-robin format |
| Knockout Stage | 2 Semi-Finals and Final |
| Defending Champions | South Africa Champions |
| Previous Champions | India Champions (2024), South Africa Champions (2025) |
| Final Venue | Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah |
| Broadcast (India) | Star Sports & FanCode |
| Broadcast (UK) | TNT Sports |
WCL Season 3 League Schedule
The seven WCL 2026 teams will compete in a round-robin league format, with each side facing the other teams once.
The league stage will feature 21 matches across Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals, followed by the grand final.
| Match No. | Fixture | Venue | Date | Time | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | India Champions vs Australia Champions | Sharjah | 03 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | India Champions won by 46 runs |
| 2 | Pakistan Champions vs Bangladesh Champions | Sharjah | 03 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | Match postponed due to technical reasons |
| 3 | South Africa Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah | 04 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | South Africa Champions won by 97 runs |
| 4 | India Champions vs England Champions | Sharjah | 04 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | England Champions won by 21 runs |
| 5 | Australia Champions vs Pakistan Champions | Sharjah | 05 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | Match Cancelled |
| 6 | Bangladesh Champions vs England Champions | Sharjah | 05 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | England Champions won by 7 wkts |
| 7 | Australia Champions vs Bangladesh Champions | Sharjah | 07 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | Australia Champions won by 37 runs |
| 8 | England Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah | 07 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | West Indies Champions won by 7 wkts |
| 11 | Australia Champions vs South Africa Champions | Sharjah | 09 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | South Africa Champions won by 8 wkts |
| 12 | Bangladesh Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah | 09 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | West Indies Champions won by 5 wkts |
| 13 | India Champions vs South Africa Champions | Sharjah | 10 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | South Africa Champions won by 4 wkts |
| 14 | Australia Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah | 11 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | Australia Champions won by 36 runs |
| 15 | India Champions vs Bangladesh Champions | Sharjah | 11 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | Bangladesh Champions won by 3 runs |
| 16 | South Africa Champions vs England Champions | Sharjah | 13 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | South Africa Champions won by 9 runs |
| 17 | India Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah | 13 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | West Indies Champions won by 6 wkts |
| 18 | England Champions vs Australia Champions | Sharjah | 14 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM | Australia Champions won by 16 runs |
| 19 | Bangladesh Champions vs South Africa Champions | Sharjah | 14 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM | South Africa Champions won by 88 runs |
Playoffs & Final Schedule
The WCL 2026 knockout stage will be played at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. The top four teams from the league stage will qualify for the semi-finals, with 1st place facing 4th place and 2nd place taking on 3rd place. The winners will meet in the Season 3 final on 18 October 2026.
| # | Fixture | Venue | Date | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF1 | South Africa Champions vs England Champions | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM |
| SF2 | Australia Champions vs West Indies Champions | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Fri 16 Oct 2026 | 07:30 PM |
| F | Grand Final | Sharjah Cricket Stadium | Sun 18 Oct 2026 | 03:30 PM |
Teams Participating in WCL Season 3
Seven teams will compete in the World Championship of Legends Season 3 in 2026. Each squad features former international stars who have represented their countries and bring years of experience to the tournament.
| Team | Expected Captain | WCL Titles | Key Players Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| India Champions | Yuvraj Singh | 1 (2024) | Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan |
| Pakistan Champions | Shahid Afridi | 0 | Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, Misbah-ul-Haq, Sohail Tanvir, Wahab Riaz |
| Australia Champions | Shane Watson | 0 | Shane Watson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Ben Cutting, Peter Siddle |
| England Champions | Eoin Morgan | 0 | Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Ian Bell, Tim Bresnan, Samit Patel |
| South Africa Champions | AB de Villiers | 1 (2025) | AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, JP Duminy, Wayne Parnell, Albie Morkel |
| West Indies Champions | Chris Gayle | 0 | Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Smith, Sheldon Cottrell, Fidel Edwards |
| Bangladesh Champions | To Be Announced | 0 | Squad to be announced |
India Champions remain one of the most successful teams in WCL history. Their squad features experienced batters, reliable bowling options, and several proven match-winners from international cricket.
Venue Details
WCL Season 3 will be hosted across venues in the UAE, with Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium hosting the tournament matches. Sharjah will host the majority of fixtures, including knockout matches and the final.
| Venue | Capacity | WCL Matches | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah | Around 17,000 | Opening matches, League Fixtures, Semi-Finals & Final | Historic cricket venue hosting major WCL 2026 fixtures, including knockout matches and the final. |
| Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai | Around 25,000 | League Fixtures | One of the UAE’s premier cricket venues, known for hosting international matches and major T20 events. |
WCL Season 3 Tournament Format
- Win = 2 points, No Result/Tie = 1 point, Loss = 0 points.
- 7 teams compete in the tournament.
- Matches are played in the T20 format.
- Teams play league-stage matches to earn points.
- Net Run Rate (NRR) is used if teams finish level on points.
Conclusion: WCL Season 3 Runs From 3 October to 18 October 2026
WCL Season 3 will feature 17 matches from 3 October to 18 October 2026, including league-stage fixtures, two semi-finals and the grand final. The tournament will be hosted in the UAE, with Sharjah Cricket Stadium and Dubai International Cricket Stadium hosting the matches. India Champions vs Pakistan Champions remains one of the biggest fixtures of the season.
South Africa Champions enter as the defending champions after winning the 2025 edition. The WCL 2026 schedule, venues and match details are updated below.