Nepal to host ICC Men's ODI World Cup qualifier playoff from December 4

Nepal will host the ICC Men's ODI World Cup Qualifier Playoff from December 4 to December 21, 2026, with eight nations competing for a place in the 2027 ODI World Cup Global Qualifier. The ICC has confirmed the tournament, which will be staged across two venues in Kathmandu: the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur and the Lower Mulpani Cricket Stadium.

The eight participating teams are Nepal, Italy, Uganda, Jersey, Canada, Namibia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. The tournament follows a single round-robin format, meaning every side plays each of the other seven teams once across the eighteen-day window. The top four finishers will advance to the Global Qualifier, where they will join Full Member nations and other qualifiers in the race for spots at the 2027 ODI World Cup.

Nepal open their campaign at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur on December 4 against Italy.

What is the schedule for ICC Men's World Cup Qualifiers Playoffs?

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

How does qualification from this playoff work?

The eight teams in this playoff are drawn from two ICC pathways. Four sides, namely UAE, Canada, Namibia and Nepal, qualified through the ICC World Cup League 2, while the remaining four came through the ICC Challenge League Cup. The playoff therefore brings together the leading associate nations from both streams into a single competition.

The top four teams at the conclusion of the round-robin stage will earn a place in the ODI World Cup Global Qualifier. That subsequent stage is expected to feature additional Full Member nations and other qualifying sides competing for the remaining berths at the 2027 ODI World Cup. For Nepal, hosting the playoff also means playing all their matches at home, which adds significance to their campaign as they look to secure one of those four coveted advancement spots.