The ICC has announced that the 2029 Women’s World Cup will expand to ten teams, building on the momentum of the recently concluded edition. This decision aligns with the ICC’s long-term plan to grow women’s cricket, first outlined on International Women’s Day in 2021. The upcoming tournament will feature 48 matches, up from 31 in the 2025 edition, marking the first expansion since 2000, when only eight teams competed. The Women’s T20 World Cup will also see growth, with 12 teams participating next year, up from 10.
The ICC highlighted record-breaking engagement during the last World Cup, with nearly 300,000 fans attending matches and around 500 million viewers tuning in globally, including record audiences in India. The board also ratified new appointments to the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee, adding names like Mithali Raj, Charlotte Edwards, and Amol Muzumdar.
Cricket’s Olympic journey continues to progress, with the LA 2028 Games set to feature six men’s and six women’s teams, including the hosts USA and top-ranked sides from each region. Matches will be held at the Fairgrounds Stadium near Los Angeles starting July 12, 2028. Discussions are also underway for cricket’s inclusion at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, following meetings between ICC officials and the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne.
Additionally, the ICC has initiated a bidding process for global video gaming rights, aiming to create an official mobile cricket game. This move follows disputes with the World Cricketers’ Association over player Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) rights. Member boards will now negotiate these rights directly with players, paving the way for new digital fan experiences and partnerships in the cricket gaming space.
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