Nepal’s Road To The 2027 Cricket World Cup: Seven Matches, Four Qualifying Spots And One Final Chance At Home
Nepal will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off from December 4 to 21, 2026, with eight teams competing at Kirtipur and Mulpani for four places in the next qualification round. Nepal must finish among the top four to remain in contention for the 2027 ODI World Cup, making every match important for the home team.
· 3 min read
Kathmandu, November 6, 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the match schedule for the 2026 Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off, which will take place in Nepal from December 4 to 21 at the TU International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and the Mulpani Cricket Ground. Eight national teams, including Nepal, will compete for four places in the 2027 Cricket World Cup Global Qualifier, giving Nepal another opportunity to move closer to its first men's ODI World Cup appearance.
Nepal Prepares For Seven Important Matches
Nepal will play seven matches against Italy, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jersey, Canada, Namibia and Kuwait. The competition will follow a single round-robin format, meaning every team will face each of the other seven teams once.
The opening match is scheduled for December 4 at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. However, published schedules currently disagree on Nepal's first opponent, with some naming Italy and others listing Jersey.
Eight Teams Compete For Four Qualifying Spots
The tournament will feature Nepal, Namibia, Canada, UAE, Italy, Uganda, Jersey and Kuwait. Nepal, Namibia, Canada and UAE enter the competition through ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, while the other four teams qualified through the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League.
Each team will compete for points across seven matches, with only the top four teams advancing to the 2027 Global Qualifier. The remaining four teams will be eliminated from the qualification race.
Why This Tournament Matters For Nepal
Nepal finished outside the top four in Cricket World Cup League 2, missing direct qualification for the next stage. The play-off therefore represents a crucial opportunity for the national team to keep its World Cup ambitions alive.
Hosting the tournament offers Nepal the advantage of familiar playing conditions and strong local support. However, the team must still deliver consistent performances against seven international opponents to earn a place in the next round.
The Road To The 2027 ODI World Cup
The United States, Scotland, the Netherlands and Oman have already qualified directly for the 2027 Global Qualifier through their League 2 performances.
The four successful play-off teams will join those nations, along with West Indies and Ireland, in the 10-team Global Qualifier. That tournament will determine the final four places in the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup qualification pathway.
The 2027 Cricket World Cup will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, making the upcoming Kathmandu play-off an important step for countries still hoping to compete on cricket's biggest ODI stage.
A Home Opportunity Nepal Cannot Afford To Waste
With seven matches scheduled over 18 days, Nepal has an opportunity to keep its World Cup dream alive in front of its home supporters. Every victory could improve its position in the standings, while dropped points could make the race for the top four more difficult.
Can Nepal make home advantage count and take another step towards its first men's ODI Cricket World Cup?
Published 2 hours ago in Sports