The ICC has approved a new format for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. While the tournament will continue to feature 14 teams , the road to the title has been significantly revamped with the introduction of a Super 7 stage and an additional preliminary phase.
The new structure was approved during the ICC’s Annual General Meeting and marks a major departure from previous World Cup formats.
Two Teams to Be Eliminated Before the Main Tournament
Although 14 teams will qualify for the World Cup, not all of them will reach the main competition.
Under the revised format, two teams will be eliminated in the opening phase, leaving 12 teams to compete in the main tournament.
How the New Format Works
Round 1: Super Series
The tournament will begin with a Super Series, featuring the three lowest-ranked qualified teams.
- The three teams will play each other in a round-robin format.
- The top team will qualify for the main tournament.
- The other two teams will be eliminated.
Round 2: Group Stage
The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six.
- Every team will play the other five teams in its group.
- The top three teams from each group will qualify directly for the Super 7 stage.
- The better fourth-placed team from the two groups will also advance, creating a seven-team Super 7 round.
A total of 30 matches will be played during the group stage.
Round 3: Super 7
The seven qualified teams will then compete in another round-robin league.
- Each team will face the others once.
- The top four teams in the standings will qualify for the semi-finals.
This stage will feature 21 matches.
Semi-Final Format
The knockout stage will be based on the Super 7 standings:
- 1st place vs 4th place
- 2nd place vs 3rd place
The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the final to compete for the ODI World Cup title.
A Major Change to the Tournament
The introduction of the Super 7 stage makes the 2027 edition one of the most unique ODI World Cups yet. While the tournament retains its 14-team structure, the new format increases the importance of every match and introduces an additional qualification hurdle before the main competition begins.