Road To World Cup 2027 Begins In Nepal: 8 Teams Battle For Last 4 Qualifier Spots From 4 December

Hosts Nepal to open against Italy in Kathmandu, as Namibia face Uganda in parallel opener…..

KATHMANDU: The race for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 enters its decisive phase as the Qualifier Playoff gets underway in Nepal from 4 to 21 December.Eight teams — Nepal, Italy, Namibia, Uganda, Canada, Kuwait, Jersey and UAE — will fight in a round-robin format for the final four places in the 10-team Global Qualifier.On the opening day, hosts Nepal will take on Italy at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, while Namibia and Uganda will clash simultaneously at the Mulpani Cricket Ground.The other teams in the fray are Canada, Kuwait, Jersey and the United Arab Emirates.

ICC General Manager – Events and Operations, Gaurav Saxena, said the Playoff is a crucial stage on the road to the 2027 World Cup and Associate cricket will play a vital role in the growth of the game.”The progress these teams have shown in recent years is encouraging, and I am confident we will witness some exciting and competitive cricket,” he said. Ireland and West Indies have already qualified for the Global Qualifier as the two highest-ranked teams outside the eight automatic qualifiers. USA, Scotland, Netherlands and Oman have come through League 2.

The winner of the Global Qualifier will earn direct entry to the Group Stage of the World Cup 2027, while the teams finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th will go into the newly formed Super Series.The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from 2 October to 21 November, with 14 teams playing 57 matches across 12 venues.