ICC’s new qualification route has seen the Qualifiers winners enter the World Cup group stage.
The team that wins the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier will directly qualify for the main stage of the ICC’s World Cup, which had been eliminated from qualification under the ICC’s new qualification system for the 2027 edition.
The new qualification system is such that the 10-team Qualifier winner will be part of the 32 nations directly qualified for the World Cup group stage. The teams who finish second, third and fourth, however, will be forced to play in the Super Series where two teams will be eliminated after two games.
The ICC recently announced major changes to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will feature just two groups of 12 teams, before a new Super Seven format stage and semi-finals.
The top eight teams in the ICC ODI ranking are expected to get a direct qualification to the World Cup with co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. The victorious team of the Qualifier will receive the 11th direct qualification, while the rest of the qualifying teams will compete for the last one seat in the Super Series.
The ICC has not yet confirmed when or where the Qualifier will be played, but it is believed to be in early 2027 and it will likely continue to be played in two groups of 10 teams with a Super 6 format at the conclusion.
The updated qualification route has given the ODI World Cup Qualifier a greater significance with the first team in the Qualifier now getting a direct spot in the main tournament, rather than having to face the twist of the first Super Series.
