Revamped Format for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 Announced

The ICC has announced a new format for the Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, set to be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The tournament will expand from 10 to 14 teams and will feature a three-stage structure designed to enhance competition and fan engagement. The first round will include a Super Series for the lowest-ranked teams, followed by a group stage and a Super 7 round. This revamped format aims to provide more thrilling matches and opportunities for all participating teams. Read on to learn more about the tournament's exciting new structure.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 15, 2026, 19:52 IST

New Structure for ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027

On Wednesday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced an updated format for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. This tournament will see an increase in participants from 10 to 14 teams, with a newly designed three-stage format aimed at enhancing competitiveness, providing more chances for teams, and improving the experience for fans.

According to the ICC's official announcement, the tournament will consist of three rounds leading up to the semi-finals and the final.

Detailed Tournament Structure

1. **Round 1**: The tournament kicks off with a Super Series involving the three lowest-ranked teams among the 14 qualifiers, competing in a round-robin format. The top team from this series will advance to the next round.

2. **Round 2** (30 matches): This stage will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six, playing in a round-robin format. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-placed team across both groups, will move on to the Super 7 stage.

3. **Round 3 - Super 7** (21 matches): In this stage, 21 round-robin matches will take place, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals. The semi-final matchups will see the first-placed team from the Super 7 facing the fourth-placed team, while the second and third-placed teams will compete against each other.

4. **Semi-finals**: The winners of the semi-finals will then compete in the final for the championship title.