In the ODI World Cup, the format will now feature four rounds. Fourteen teams will participate, with Round 1 including the teams ranked 12th, 13th, and 14th. From this round, one team will advance to Round 2 along with the other 11 teams.
Round 2 will have two groups of six, with the top three from each group, plus the next highest-placed team from both groups, moving on to a Super 7 stage. The leading four teams from this stage will qualify for the semi-finals.
The T20 World Cup will also undergo a significant format change. The 20 participating teams will be divided into five groups of four, replacing the previous setup of four groups of five. The top two teams from each group will progress to a new Super 10, split into two groups of five. The winners of these groups will move directly to the semi-finals, while the second-placed teams will compete against the third-placed teams from the opposite groups in two Eliminator matches to determine the final semi-finalists.
The ICC has also updated the qualification process for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup. Scotland will gain direct entry into the Europe Regional Final, while teams from the 2026 edition that do not secure automatic spots will need to advance through the Global Qualifier. The remaining spots in the Global Qualifier will be filled through regional qualification across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas, and East Asia-Pacific.
The proposed changes have received the ICC’s endorsement but will need final approval from the Finance & Commercial Affairs Committee later this year.
