The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced a revised structure for the 2027 World Cup tournament.
The ICC says the new format is designed ‘to elevate competitiveness and consequence’ of its flagship global event.
The tournament is guaranteed to have fans clamouring to find cricket live streams when it is staged in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe next year.
ICC 2027 World Cup format
The three lowest-ranked sides in the 14-team tournament will face each other in a ‘Super Series’ round. The top team progresses to the 12-team group phase.
The next stage of the tournament features 12 teams competing across 30 matches. The teams will be divided into two groups of six and play in a round-robin format.
The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-placed team across both groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage.
There are 21 round-robin matches during the Super 7 stage, with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals.
The team finishing first in the Super 7 standings will face the fourth-placed side, while the second-placed team will take on the third-placed team.
The winners of the two semi-finals will compete in the final for the trophy. The ICC says the new format will improve its flagship global event.
An ICC statement read: “The structure has been designed to strengthen the competitive narrative across every stage of the event.
“Matches from round one and round two carry higher consequence, with a highly competitive Super 7 stage featuring seven qualifying teams going through a round-robin stage to qualify for the semi-finals.
“The increased consequence and enhanced competitive intensity will enhance the overall experience for fans while continuing to provide emerging teams with the opportunity to compete on cricket’s biggest stage.”
ICC 2027 World Cup preview
Australia are the most successful team in the tournament’s history, having lifted the trophy on six previous occasions.
| Year | Hosts | Winners | Runners-up |
| 1975 | England | West Indies | Australia |
| 1979 | England | West Indies | England |
| 1983 | England | India | West Indies |
| 1987 | India | Australia | England |
| 1992 | Australia & New Zealand | Pakistan | England |
| 1996 | India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Australia |
| 1999 | England | Australia | Pakistan |
| 2003 | South Africa | Australia | India |
| 2007 | West Indies | Australia | Sri Lanka |
| 2011 | Bangladesh, India & Sri Lanka | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2015 | Australia & New Zealand | Australia | New Zealand |
| 2019 | England | England | New Zealand |
| 2023 | India | Australia | India |
They emerged victorious in the most recent edition, defeating India in the final by six wickets.
India, West Indies, England, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the only other nations to have won the ICC World Cup since it was first staged in 1975.
Intriguingly, only four host nations have claimed the title on home soil – Sri Lanka (1996), India (2011), Australia (2015) and England (2019).
Australia’s tally of five titles in the last seven tournaments undoubtedly makes them a team to be feared next year.
They triumphed on the last occasion the World Cup was staged in Africa, and the conditions there clearly hold no fear for them.
India are on a recovery mission after falling short in 2023, but their penchant for fluffing their lines in major tournaments makes them a risky betting proposition.
England’s record when the tournament is staged overseas leaves a lot to be desired. They have plenty to prove next year.
By contrast, New Zealand and South Africa could give bettors a run for their money.
After being narrowly defeated by Australia in the last-four in 2023, South Africa will fancy their chances of making a deep run on home soil.
