Afghanistan take on New Zealand in their opening clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
Confidence will be on Afghanistan’s side as they enter the tournament after a 2-1 victory over West Indies. Spinners Mujeeb Ur Rehman and captain Rashid Khan led with the ball with 6 and 5 wickets each – a huge positive on the spin-friendly Sri-Lanka wickets.
If you're away from home right now you can use a VPN to unblock your usual stream from anywhere. Full details on how to watch the Afghanistan vs New Zealand T20 Cricket World Cup 2026 game, wherever you are, just below – including options to watch for free.
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Afghanistan cricket has progressed leaps and bounds during the last five years. The team made it to the semi-finals of the last T20 World Cup, where they were defeated by India, who eventually went on to win the cup.
New Zealand, on the other hand, find themselves in some trouble after a crushing 1-4 defeat against defending champions India. Their batting looked out of sorts with the middle order failing to contribute. However, the Kiwis will look to put this bad series behind them as they enter the World Cup.
While openers Finn Allen and Tim Seifert are in good form, captain Mitchell Santner will hold the key with the ball spinning. Pacer Jacob Duffy grabbed 81 wickets in 2025, breaking the country’s record for the highest wicket-taker in a calendar year – a lot will rely on his shoulders as well.
Even after solid team performances over the years, the Kiwis have never made it to the finals of a T20 World Cup, losing the semi-finals on three occasions (2007, 2016, and 2022). They’d like to put the record straight and take the Cup home.
Keep reading as we explain how to watch the Afghanistan vs New Zealand T20 Cricket World Cup live stream online from wherever you are, including options to watch for FREE.
Can I watch Afghanistan vs New Zealand for free?
How to watch Afghanistan vs New Zealand with a VPN
Below we've got you covered with your official broadcasting options for cricket-loving countries (and the US!), but if you're overseas you'll soon discover that you can't watch your usual service because of geo-restrictions.
You can get past these blocks, however, by using the best VPN to change your streaming device's IP address to your usual location.
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Afghanistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 Q+A
When and where is the Afghanistan vs New Zealand match?
The New Zealand vs Afghanistan T20 World Cup 2026 match will be played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai at 11am IST / 12:30am ET.
Afghanistan vs New Zealand T20 World Cup 2026 squads
Afghanistan: Rashid Khan (c), Noor Ahmad, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Sediqullah Atal, Fazal Haq Farooqi, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Naveen Ul Haq, Mohammad Ishaq Rahimi, Shahidullah Kamal, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Darwish Rasooli, Ibrahim Zadran. Reserves: AM Ghazanfar, Ijaz Ahmad Ahmadzai, Zia Ur Rahman Sharifi
New Zealand: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi
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