By Webfit News
16 July 2026
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has unveiled a revamped tournament format for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028, promising more high-stakes matches while maintaining the competition’s 20-team structure.
The tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand, will still feature 20 teams and 55 matches, but the path to the knockout stages has been redesigned to create more competitive fixtures throughout the tournament.
The announcement comes as preparations gather pace for one of the biggest sporting events ever to be jointly hosted by the two neighbouring nations.
How the New Format Will Work
Under the revised format, the tournament will begin with a Group Stage featuring five groups of four teams.
The top two teams from each group will advance to a newly introduced Super 10 stage.
Rather than moving directly into semi-finals after the Super stage, the tournament now introduces an additional knockout element designed to reward consistent performance while keeping more teams in contention.
The Super 10 stage will consist of:
- Two pools of five teams.
- The team finishing first in each pool qualifies directly for the semi-finals.
- Teams finishing second and third will compete in Elimination Finals.
- Winners of those Elimination Finals will complete the semi-final lineup.
The tournament’s semi-finals and final will continue under the existing format.
More Meaningful Matches
According to the ICC, the enhanced structure is designed to ensure that every stage of the tournament carries greater significance.
The new format is expected to:
- Increase the number of competitive matches.
- Provide more opportunities for emerging cricket nations.
- Deliver greater value for host cities.
- Enhance the experience for fans, broadcasters and commercial partners.
- Maintain excitement throughout the tournament rather than concentrating it only in the knockout rounds.
By introducing Elimination Finals before the semi-finals, more teams will remain in contention deeper into the competition.
New Zealand Ready to Welcome the Cricket World
New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Geoff Allott welcomed the announcement, describing the revised format as an exciting development for an event already generating significant momentum.
He said the changes would build on everything that makes T20 cricket one of the world’s most entertaining sporting formats.
“This is an exciting evolution of the tournament and reinforces the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 as one of the premier global sporting events on the calendar.”
Allott said the revised structure would deliver memorable moments for players, supporters and host communities alike.
“The revised format builds on the excitement and unpredictability that makes T20 cricket so compelling, while ensuring every stage of the tournament delivers memorable moments for players, fans and host communities.”
He added that New Zealand was proud to be co-hosting the tournament alongside Australia and looked forward to welcoming teams and supporters from around the world.
Strong Interest From Potential Host Cities
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 Chief Executive Officer Joel Morrison said the enhanced tournament structure strengthens the event for everyone involved.
“The enhanced format sees each match carrying genuine consequence, providing fans, host cities, venue, broadcast and commercial partners an even stronger tournament proposition,” Morrison said.
He also revealed that 14 cities across Australia and New Zealand have expressed interest in hosting matches.
However, only eight to ten venues will ultimately be selected.
The successful host cities and venues are expected to be announced in mid-October 2026, marking exactly two years before the tournament begins.
What This Means for Fans
For cricket supporters, the revised format means there will be fewer matches with little at stake and more contests that directly influence qualification for the knockout rounds.
The introduction of Elimination Finals also provides additional high-pressure encounters before the semi-finals, increasing the drama for players and fans alike.
With T20 cricket continuing to attract global audiences, the revised structure aims to maximise excitement while providing emerging cricket nations with more meaningful opportunities on the world stage.
As Australia and New Zealand continue preparations, the countdown has officially begun for what organisers hope will become one of the most memorable ICC Men’s T20 World Cups ever staged.
