A Missed Opportunity at the Highest Level
When the International Cricket Council confirmed back in 2021 that the men's 50-over World Cup would be expanded to 14 teams, it felt like a genuine step forward for the global game. Associate nations, emerging cricket markets, and players who had spent years grafting in the lower tiers of international cricket finally had something tangible to aim for. So it is perhaps no surprise that the World Cricketers' Association (WCA) has reacted with considerable unease now that the structure of that expanded tournament has been formally confirmed — and it looks rather less generous than many had hoped.
The 2027 edition, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, will indeed feature 14 teams. But the format means the three lowest-ranked qualifiers will face each other in a preliminary round, with only one advancing to join the remaining 11 in the group stage. For sides ranked 12th, 13th and 14th — currently Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands — qualification could amount to little more than a single knockout match before they are sent home.
What the Format Actually Looks Like
Once the preliminary round is settled, the main group stage proceeds with 12 teams divided into two pools of six. The top three from each group, plus the next best-ranked side across both pools, advance to a 'Super Seven' round-robin stage — a slight expansion on the 'Super Six' format used in earlier tournaments. From there, the top four progress to the semi-finals.
The ICC has defended the structure, stating it delivers greater context, competitiveness and consequence throughout the event. That argument holds some water when you consider the middle portion of the draw, but it is hard to apply that logic to a qualifier that might play just one match before being eliminated. For context, when the World Cup last featured 14 teams back in 2015, every side was placed in a group of seven and guaranteed six matches. The step back from that standard is significant.
The WCA's Case for Genuine Consultation
The WCA has not held back in its criticism. Chief executive Tom Moffat made the association's position clear, stating that it is difficult to square the sport's stated ambitions of global growth with decisions that reduce meaningful participation for the very countries who stood to gain most from a proper expansion. Scotland captain Richie Berrington has echoed those sentiments, calling for players to be meaningfully consulted on significant decisions affecting the game's structure.
The WCA's formal statement warned that the revised format raises questions around transparency and consultation, and that for some nations, reaching the World Cup will no longer guarantee a genuine campaign or the chance to face established sides — limiting the sporting, developmental and commercial upside for players and emerging cricket markets alike. From a betting perspective, this format also affects the outright tournament odds significantly; sides like Ireland and Scotland would offer far greater value if guaranteed group-stage football, but their chances of even reaching that point now carry real uncertainty.
What Happens Next?
The ICC has been asked to respond to the WCA's criticism, though no formal reply had been issued at the time of writing. Whether the governing body revisits any aspect of the format remains to be seen, but with the tournament still several years away, there is at least some window for dialogue. The WCA's intervention feels important — not just for 2027, but as a broader statement about how decisions in cricket are made and who gets a seat at the table. If the game is serious about growing globally, then the structures it builds around its flagship events need to reflect that ambition properly.
