In the annual update to the men's ODI team rankings last week, England slipped to eighth place. How does this affect their chances of qualification for the 2027 World Cup?
The ICC's team rankings do update with each match and series played, but annual updates reduce weightage given to matches played over a year ago, and do away with those from over three years ago.
The latest annual update came on Tuesday (May 5), and saw England move up to second in the men's Test rankings but slip to eighth in the men's ODI rankings after a disappointing year. Between May 4, 2024 and May 4, 2025, they won just three of their 14 ODIs, their win/loss ratio of 0.272 only better than Nepal (0.200) and Bangladesh (0.142). This could have ramifications for their qualification for the next 50-over World Cup in 2027.
2027 World Cup qualification: How it works
Fourteen teams will be part of the next World Cup. Two of them have already qualified – South Africa and Zimbabwe – as co-hosts of the tournament. Namibia are also a host nation, but the privilege of automatic qualification as a tournament host is limited to ICC Full Members alone.
Eight teams will qualify on the basis of the ICC ODI rankings; the top eight in the world, excluding the hosts. Qualification based on the rankings will be decided on the cut-off date of March 31, 2027.
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With the current rankings, the eight to qualify would be India, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, England and West Indies.
Four more teams will qualify from the 10-team 2027 World Cup Qualifier tournament to be held before the main tournament. Two of the participating teams in this tournament will be next two in the ODI rankings, after the hosts and other top eight sides. Again, these will be determined on March 31, 2027. At present, these two would be Bangladesh and Ireland.
Why are England in danger of missing out?
With the rankings as is, England would be the second-last team to qualify out of the eight automatic qualifiers. Right now, with a rating of 84, they are just one point above West Indies' 83. The two sides will play a three-ODI series later this month, which could boost West Indies' rating, simultaneously worsening England's if they were to lose.
Slipping one place does not put them out of the automatic qualification places, but another prolonged run of poor form could potentially see England slide fall below Bangladesh, and land up at No.10 in the rankings. If they end up there by the cut-off date, England would have to participate in the qualifying tournament.
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It is likely that England would still make the World Cup even if they had to play the Qualifier, but participating would open the door to a potential exit. West Indies had to play the Qualifier in 2023, and did not make it to the tournament as Sri Lanka and Netherlands qualified instead.
England have never missed the World Cup, and it will now be new white-ball skipper Harry Brook's first intention to steer them clear of the possibility.
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