Afghanistan secure 2027 World Cup spot with Belfast win; West Indies relegated to qualifiers

Afghanistan secured automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup with a win over Ireland in Belfast on Monday, while twice champions West Indies must go through the qualifying tournament again.

The top eight teams in the one-day international rankings on September 30, excluding co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, will qualify directly for the 2027 event. Afghanistan’s victory in Belfast ensures they will finish among those top-eight sides. Australia, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh are already positioned to join Afghanistan among the direct qualifiers.

The West Indies are currently ranked 10th and cannot make up enough ground to move into the top eight by the September 30 cut-off, despite having two ODIs against India left to play before that date. Their ranking position therefore forces them into the qualification pathway for the 2027 tournament.

The Caribbean side failed to secure an automatic place for the 2023 edition and lost in the qualifiers, which resulted in their absence from a men’s 50-overs World Cup for the first time. In contrast, West Indies had successfully navigated the qualifying tournament to participate in the 2019 edition.

Under the revised structure for 2027, the winner of the qualifying tournament will advance directly to the World Cup’s second stage. Teams finishing second, third and fourth in the qualifier will enter the competition in the first round, referred to as the Super Series.

The 2027 World Cup will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The full match schedule for the tournament has yet to be released.