It looks like the ICC might be gearing up for another significant shift in the ODI World Cup format. Recent reports indicate that there are talks about scaling back the 2027 Cricket World Cup from the initially planned 14 teams to just 12. This comes despite earlier plans to expand the tournament. Understandably, this has sparked worries among Associate nations, who see this as a potential loss of one of their key chances to shine on the global stage. It’s worth noting, though, that no final decision has been made yet. Both the ICC and its member boards have yet to officially confirm any changes, and for now, the tournament is still listed as a 14-team event in the ICC’s current qualification documents and approved structure.
Journalist Tristan Lavalette reported that the proposal was discussed during recent ICC meetings in Edinburgh, as he said, “There are discussions to cut back the 2027 ODI World Cup to 12 teams. The ICC announced in 2021 that the 2027 event would have 14 teams. There were discussions at the time of a 16-team World Cup after the 2019 and 2023 editions only had 10 teams.”
Current ICC World Cup 2027 Plans
The 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is set to take place from October 4 to November 21, spanning across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Most of the action will unfold in South Africa, with matches lined up in eight vibrant cities: Johannesburg, Centurion, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Paarl, East London, and Bloemfontein. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will host games in Harare and Bulawayo, and for the first time, Namibia is gearing up to welcome World Cup matches in Windhoek.
According to the format approved in 2021, the tournament will showcase 54 matches featuring 14 teams divided into two groups of seven. The top three teams from each group will move on to the Super Six stage, leading up to the semi-finals and the grand final. South Africa and Zimbabwe automatically qualify as hosts, but Namibia still needs to earn its spot since it’s not a Full Member nation. The top eight ODI teams, excluding the hosts, will qualify directly based on their rankings as of March 31, 2027. The remaining four spots will be filled through the World Cup Qualifier pathway, which includes League 2, Challenge League, and Qualifier Play-off events. If the tournament were to shrink to 12 teams, it would necessitate a new format and qualification system, making it even more challenging for Associate nations.
