A major restructuring of the 20-team Men’s T20 World Cup will replace the four-group opening stage with five groups of four teams, funneling the top two teams from each group into an expanded “Super 10” phase. The top teams from both five-team groups will qualify directly for the semi-finals, while the second and third-placed teams compete in two newly introduced eliminators. Additionally, the qualification pathway for the 2028 T20 World Cup has been officially finalized. Scotland receives direct entry to the Europe Regional Final, while non-qualifying 2026 participants advance straight to the Global Qualifier alongside eight regional qualifiers.
Simultaneously, the 14-team ODI World Cup is transitioning to an intricate three-stage layout before the knockout rounds. The three lowest-ranked qualifiers will first contest a round-robin “Super Series” to determine who joins the top 11 sides in Round 2, which features two groups of six. The top three teams from each group, plus the next highest-placed team overall, progress to a seven-team “Super 7” round-robin. The top four sides then advance to the semi-finals.
These structural decisions, finalized at the ICC Board’s annual meetings in Edinburgh following recommendations from the Chief Executives’ Committee, aim to improve competitive standards and deliver a better experience for players and fans worldwide.
