Road to 2027: Nepal to Host High-Stakes ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff
Eight teams battle in Nepal from Dec 4-21 for a shot at the 2027 Cricket World Cup. Check out the full schedule and qualifying path.
The race for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is heating up as Nepal prepares to host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff. Starting from December 4 and running through December 21, eight ambitious teams will compete in a round-robin format, fighting for the last four available spots in the 10-team Global Qualifier.
The Battle for Survival
The stakes could not be higher for the participating nations. The eight teams vying for a place in the next stage include the hosts, Nepal, along with Italy, Namibia, Uganda, Canada, Kuwait, Jersey, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The tournament will be split across two venues in Nepal: the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground and the Mulpani Cricket Ground. The action kicks off on December 4, with Nepal taking on Italy and Namibia facing Uganda in simultaneous clashes.
"The Qualifier Play-off is a crucial stage in the pathway to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, and I am sure all eight teams will be eager to seize this opportunity and secure a place in the next stage," stated Gaurav Saxena, ICC General Manager – Events and Operations.
The Path to the World Cup 2027
The road to the main event is complex and grueling. The four teams that emerge victorious from this playoff in Nepal will join six other teams in the Global Qualifier. Those already secured for the Global Qualifier include:
- Ireland and the West Indies: The highest-ranked teams outside the automatic qualifiers.
- USA, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Oman: Teams that qualified directly via the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.
The reward for winning the Global Qualifier is a direct ticket to the Group Stage of the 2027 World Cup. Meanwhile, teams finishing second, third, and fourth in that stage will enter the newly established Super Series.
World Cup 2027 Overview
The grand event will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, 2027. The tournament will feature 14 teams competing in 57 matches across 12 different venues.
Full Match Schedule
December 4
- Nepal vs Italy (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Namibia vs Uganda (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 5
- UAE vs Jersey (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Kuwait vs Canada (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 6
- Nepal vs Uganda (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Italy vs Namibia (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 7
- Kuwait vs Jersey (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Canada vs UAE (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 9
- Canada vs Italy (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Jersey vs Uganda (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 10
- Nepal vs UAE (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Kuwait vs Namibia (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 12
- Nepal vs Jersey (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Namibia vs Canada (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 13
- Uganda vs Kuwait (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- UAE vs Italy (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 14
- Nepal vs Canada (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Jersey vs Namibia (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 15
- Uganda vs Italy (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- UAE vs Kuwait (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 17
- Italy vs Kuwait (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Jersey vs Canada (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 18
- Nepal vs Namibia (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Uganda vs UAE (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 20
- Namibia vs UAE (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Italy vs Jersey (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)
December 21
- Nepal vs Kuwait (Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground)
- Canada vs Uganda (Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground)