ICC Confirms Qualification Pathways for Cricket’s Major Tournaments Through 2035
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has outlined qualification plans for a series of major men’s and women’s tournaments, setting out a long-term roadmap that begins with the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup and extends through to the 2035 edition. The decisions, discussed at ICC meetings in Bali, Indonesia, are designed to create clearer routes to global events and broaden opportunities for both Full and Associate Members.
The announcement also covers qualification for cricket’s return to the Olympic Games at Los Angeles 2028 (LA28), a landmark moment for the sport. Alongside the tournament formats, the schedule points to a busy era for international cricket: the ICC plans to stage at least one major global event each year from 2028 to 2035. The Champions Trophy is scheduled for 2029 and 2033. India will host the 2029 edition, while the venue for the 2033 tournament has not yet been confirmed.
For players and fans, the new frameworks offer more than a calendar of competitions. They establish how teams can reach the biggest stages, which makes every regional tournament and qualifying match more consequential. While no prediction can account for every upset, the formats provide useful clues about where pressure points—and opportunities—are likely to emerge.
LA28 Cricket Qualifiers Set for 2028
Cricket’s Olympic qualification campaign will begin in Bangladesh, where the men’s qualifier is scheduled to take place from February 5 to 13, 2028. A women’s qualifier will follow in the United States during February and March. These events will determine which teams earn a place at LA28, where cricket is set to make its long-awaited Olympic return.
The Olympic pathway is especially significant for Associate nations. A place at the Games could bring new visibility, investment and fan interest, while also giving emerging teams a high-profile target beyond the traditional ICC tournaments. For established sides, meanwhile, the short qualification window leaves little room for a slow start. Preparation, squad balance and performance under pressure could all prove decisive.
How the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier Will Work
The 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup Qualifier is scheduled for February and March 2027. Ten teams will compete across 23 matches, beginning in two groups of five. The tournament will then move into a semi-final and final, creating a compact competition in which every group-stage result could shape a team’s route to the main event.
The top four teams will qualify for the World Cup, but their paths into the tournament will differ. The qualifier’s winner will advance directly to the World Cup’s Group Stage. The other three successful teams will enter a Super Series, where they will compete for the remaining Group Stage place. That structure rewards the overall champion while keeping the other qualifying teams in contention for a more favourable position.
From a cricket prediction perspective, the format gives consistency particular importance. A team may have enough quality to win individual matches, but a poor group-stage result could make its route more difficult. Strong starts, reliable bowling across multiple games and the ability to handle knockout pressure are likely to be central to any successful campaign.
Men’s T20 World Cup 2028: Sixteen-Team Global Qualifier
The qualifying tournament for the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup will feature 16 teams and is expected to be held in the first quarter of 2028. The ICC has not yet confirmed the dates. Eight teams will progress from the global qualifier to the main tournament, with places allocated through a combination of regional representation and overall performance.
Each region’s best-performing team will be eligible to qualify, subject to a minimum performance requirement. The remaining places will go to the highest-placed teams overall. This approach is intended to balance two priorities: ensuring that regions have a meaningful route into the World Cup while also rewarding teams that demonstrate the strongest results across the competition.
The format could make the qualifier particularly compelling. Regional sides will have the chance to secure a place through their own performance, but teams that miss out on a regional route may still remain in the race through the overall standings. That creates multiple qualification scenarios and should keep the competition open for longer. For supporters assessing a prediction, squad depth and adaptability may matter as much as headline talent in a multi-team T20 event.
Women’s T20 World Cup 2028 Qualifier: Regional Places Confirmed
The ICC has also confirmed the regional allocation for the global qualifier for the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup. Eight teams will qualify through regional competitions: two each from Africa, Asia and the East Asia-Pacific, plus one each from the Americas and Europe.
The Netherlands and Scotland, who featured at the 2026 edition but are not automatically qualified for the 2028 tournament, will join those eight regional qualifiers. The 10-team competition will therefore include teams with recent World Cup experience as well as sides seeking to make their first major breakthrough. The top two teams will earn places at the 2028 Women’s T20 World Cup.
That mix should add an intriguing contrast in styles and experience. The Netherlands and Scotland will be familiar with the demands of a global tournament, but regional qualifiers may arrive with strong momentum and a clear understanding of the conditions in which they earned their places. In a short-format competition, a single standout performance can quickly change the outlook, making confident predictions difficult and close contests likely.
A Longer-Term Plan for Global Cricket
The ICC said its decisions were made with the aim of increasing opportunities for Full and Associate Members, strengthening qualification pathways and improving competitive standards across international cricket. The extended schedule, including the Champions Trophy in 2029 and 2033, signals a more regular rhythm of major events through 2035.
Clearer qualification systems can help teams plan years ahead, invest in player development and build experience through regional competition. They also give fans a better sense of what is at stake throughout the international calendar. From the 2027 ODI qualifier to the Olympic race and the 2028 T20 pathways, the coming years will offer emerging cricket nations more chances to challenge established sides—and plenty of compelling storylines for supporters following every result.
