Two-time ODI World Cup winners West Indies have as soon as once more missed direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup and can as an alternative should undergo the Qualifier. It is going to be their third straight look within the qualifying match. They made it via in 2019 however didn’t qualify in 2023.
The highest eight groups within the ICC ODI Rankings on September 30, 2026, will routinely qualify for the 2027 World Cup, and that excludes the 2 host nations — South Africa and Zimbabwe. Nevertheless, with Afghanistan securing a spot in that bracket after a win towards Eire on Monday in Belfast, West Indies will miss out on the spot.
Afghanistan, therefore, will be a part of the likes of defending champions Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, South Africa and Zimbabwe within the line-up for the 2027 World Cup.
The West Indies, at present ranked tenth, have two matches in hand earlier than the deadline, as they journey to India to tackle Shubman Gill’s males, however even two consecutive wins would fail to safe them an computerized choice berth. The West Indies must undergo the qualifiers section but once more, which can get underway in February subsequent 12 months, to qualify for the showpiece occasion.
How can West Indies qualify
On July 15, 2026, the ICC Board authorised adjustments to the 2027 males’s ODI World Cup format geared toward making matches extra aggressive and shortening the match, whereas retaining the 14-team discipline.
The World Cup Qualifier will function 10 groups, with the highest 4 advancing to the 2027 World Cup. The host of the Qualifier is but to be determined.
West Indies and Eire, the 2 lowest-ranked non-host Full Members within the ODI rankings as of September 30, 2026, will enter the Qualifier instantly. They are going to be joined by the highest 4 groups from CWC League 2 and the highest 4 groups from a Qualifier Playoff.
The Qualifier Playoff will function the underside 4 groups from CWC League 2 and 4 groups from the Problem League, successfully the third tier of the qualification pathway. The highest 4 from that eight-team playoff will progress to the primary Qualifier. The Problem League has 12 groups cut up into two teams of six. Every group performs three round-robin tournaments in the course of the qualification cycle. The highest two groups from every group will advance to the Qualifier Playoff.
The winner of the primary Qualifier will earn a spot instantly within the second spherical of the 2027 World Cup. The groups ending second, third and fourth must play the Tremendous Sequence, with the winner of that three-team competitors additionally advancing to the second spherical.
The revised format has drawn criticism from some Affiliate nations, who’ve questioned the discount in direct World Cup alternatives.
