Nepal to host eight-team Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff as teams battle for final spots in 2027 tournament

Eight teams, including hosts Nepal, will compete from 4–21 December for four places in the Global Qualifier for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Ireland, West Indies, USA, Scotland, the Netherlands and Oman have already secured their places in the next qualifying stage.

Nepal cricket team players walking off the field celebrating after a T20 match under stadium lights

Photo Credit: ICC

Eight teams will be vying for the last four spots in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027 when they begin their campaign in the round-robin Qualifier Playoff to be played from 4 to 21 December.

Hosts Nepal will take on Italy at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground on the opening day of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff with Namibia and Uganda contesting simultaneously at the Mulpani Cricket Ground.

Canada, Kuwait, Jersey and the United Arab Emirates are the other teams competing for the remaining slots in the 10-team Global Qualifier to determine the final four places at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.

ICC General Manager – Events and Operations, Gaurav Saxena, said: “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.

“Associate cricket is vital to the continued growth and global development of our sport. Competitions such as this provide teams with valuable opportunities to showcase their talent, gain experience and raise their standards.

“The progress these teams have shown in recent years is encouraging, and I am confident we will witness some exciting and competitive cricket. On behalf of the ICC, I wish all the teams the very best.”

The teams already qualified for the Global Qualifier are Ireland and the West Indies, as the two highest-ranked teams outside the eight automatic World Cup qualifiers, excluding Full Member hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. The USA, Scotland, the Netherlands and Oman have qualified directly from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.

Victory at the Global Qualifier will secure one team’s direct entry to the Group Stage of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, while the teams finishing second, third and fourth will enter 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, featuring 14 teams and 57 matches across 12 venues.

Match Schedule

Tribhuvan University  Upper Mulpani 
Friday, 4 December  Nepal vs Italy  Namibia vs Uganda 
Saturday, 5 December   UAE vs Jersey  Kuwait vs Canada 
Sunday, 6 December   Nepal vs Uganda  Italy vs Namibia 
Monday, 7 December   Kuwait vs Jersey  Canada vs UAE 
Tuesday, 8 December   No matches   
Wednesday, 9 December   Canada vs Italy  Jersey vs Uganda 
Thursday, 10 December   Nepal vs UAE  Kuwait vs Namibia 
Friday, 11 December  No matches   
Saturday, 12 December  Nepal vs Jersey  Namibia vs Canada 
Sunday, 13 December   Uganda vs Kuwait  UAE vs Italy 
Monday, 14 December   Nepal vs Canada  Jersey vs Namibia 
Tuesday, 15 December   Uganda vs Italy   UAE vs Kuwait 
Wednesday, 16 December  No matches   
Thursday, 17 December  Italy vs Kuwait  Jersey vs Canada 
Friday, 18 December  Nepal vs Namibia  Uganda vs UAE 
Saturday, 19 December  No matches   
Sunday, 20 December  Namibia vs UAE  Italy vs Jersey 
Monday, 21 December  Nepal vs Kuwait  Canada v Uganda 

The media release on the final placings in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier is available here.

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