The 2027 ODI World Cup Qualifier carries significant stakes under the newly announced format, as the tournament winner will earn a direct entry into the main group stage. This achievement allows the winner to bypass the first round, known as the Super Series, which will involve the teams finishing in second, third, and fourth place.
While the ICC has yet to finalize the dates and venue for the 2027 Qualifier, it is expected to take place in early 2027. The competition is likely to follow the 2023 structure, featuring 10 teams divided into two groups of five, culminating in a Super Six stage. The 10-team field will consist of the two lowest-ranked Full Members in the ODI rankings, the top four teams from CWC League 2, and the top four finishers from a World Cup Qualifier Playoff. This playoff will include the bottom four teams from CWC League 2 and four teams from the Challenge League, which is composed of 12 teams split into two pools of six.
The main 2027 World Cup tournament, to be held in October and November across co-hosts South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, will feature 12 teams. Direct qualification is reserved for the top eight teams in the ODI rankings as of September 2026, plus two of the three co-hosts. The 11th direct spot goes to the Qualifier winner. The remaining teams from the Qualifier—those finishing second, third, and fourth—will compete in the Super Series, a two-match round-robin phase. Only the winner of this series will advance, meaning two of the four qualifying teams will be eliminated after just two matches.
The tournament structure has shifted from the 2021-approved model. The new format introduces a Super Seven round, featuring the top three teams from each of the two groups of six plus the next-best-ranked team across both groups. This round will consist of 21 matches in a round-robin format, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals and the eventual final.
On Monday the ICC announced radical changes to the format for the 2027 ODI World Cup to the model originally approved by the governing body in 2021. One major change is the number of teams making the main round of the World Cup. In the original model 14 teams were to be split across two groups, before moving to the Sup
The Super Seven round, which is making its debut at this World Cup, will comprise the top three teams from each of the two groups of six along with the next-best-ranked team (on points table) across both groups. The Super Seven round comprises 21 matches with seven teams playing each other in round-robin format with th
