Canada's Long Journey to 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualification

Canada faces a challenging path to secure a spot in the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will take place across South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. After earning a place in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2, the Canadian men’s team is one of eight teams that will play a total of 36 one-day internationals, spanning nine triangular series, until December 2026.

Ranked 19th globally, Canada is currently hosting No. 16 Nepal and No. 17 Oman in a tri-series at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground in King City, Ontario, from Monday through September 26. The Canadians aim to qualify for the expanded 14-team World Cup, which will include two of the co-hosts (South Africa and Zimbabwe) along with eight of the top 10 teams in the ICC’s ODI rankings.

Canada’s target is to capture one of the four remaining spots available through the World League, which offers two separate qualification routes. Presently, the Canadian team holds third place in the standings with a 4-4-0 record, trailing the 14th-ranked Netherlands (6-2-0) and No. 11 Scotland (4-2-0, with one no-result). Oman, with a 1-2-0 record and one no-result, sits in sixth, while Nepal, at 1-3-0, is seventh.

The top four teams from League 2 will advance to the World Cup Qualifier, a 10-team event that also includes the two lowest-ranked full-member nations in the ODI rankings (excluding South Africa and Zimbabwe). The top four teams from that qualifier will then secure their spots in the 2027 World Cup.

Canada has not appeared in the 50-over World Cup since 2011, having missed out on the last three tournaments. They previously participated in the 1979, 2003, and 2007 World Cups but failed to advance past the group stages in each of those editions.

This year, the Canadian men’s team made their debut in the ICC T20 World Cup, earning a historic win over Ireland. However, they were unable to progress beyond the group stage in the 20-over tournament, co-hosted by the United States and the West Indies.

ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 Schedule at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground, King City, Ontario:

- Sept. 16: Canada vs. Nepal

- Sept. 18: Nepal vs. Oman

- Sept. 20: Canada vs. Oman

- Sept. 22: Canada vs. Nepal

- Sept. 24: Oman vs. Nepal

- Sept. 26: Canada vs. Oman

No-Frills T-20 Cup at Maple Leaf Cricket Ground, King City, Ontario:

- Sept. 28: Canada vs. Nepal

- Sept. 29: Oman vs. Nepal

- Sept. 30: Canada vs. Oman

- Oct. 1: Canada vs. Nepal

- Oct. 2: Nepal vs. Oman

- Oct. 3: Canada vs. Oman