ICC takes major step for women’s cricket, expands ODI World Cup from 8 to 10 teams from 2029

The recent Women's ODI World Cup 2025 concluded with a historic moment for India, as the team secured their first-ever global trophy in women's cricket. The final, played on November 2 in Navi Mumbai, saw India defeat South Africa by a margin of 52 runs to lift the coveted title.

Women’s ODI World Cup to grow to 10 teams from 2029

Building on the success and momentum generated by the 2025 tournament, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced a major policy decision on Friday, November 7, 2025. The ICC confirmed that the next edition of the Women’s ODI World Cup in 2029 will be expanded to feature 10 teams, a significant increase from the existing eight-team format. This expansion is aimed at providing greater opportunities for emerging nations and further strengthening the competitive landscape of the women's game. Not just that, the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 will also see 12 teams participating in the tournament, an expansion from the 10 sides that featured in 2024.

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"The ICC board, keen to build on the success of the event, agreed to expand the next edition of the tournament to 10 teams (from 8 teams in 2025)," an ICC press release stated.

"Nearly 300,000 fans watched the event in stadia breaking the record for tournament attendance for any women's cricket event. The tournament also witnessed viewership growth and new records being set for on-screen audiences across the world with nearly 500 million viewers in India," it further stated.

Future of cricket confirmed for LA 2028 Olympics

During the recent meetings, the International Cricket Council (ICC) finalized key details regarding the sport's inclusion in the upcoming Olympics. The apex body confirmed that the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics will feature both men’s and women’s T20 cricket events, with each tournament comprising six teams and a total of 28 matches. This decision marks a significant milestone for cricket's global expansion.

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Increased Funding and New Committee Appointments

In addition to planning for the Olympics, the ICC approved an approximate 10 per cent increase in the distribution of funds to its Associate Members for the year 2026, aimed at boosting cricket development in smaller nations. Furthermore, the ICC announced new additions to its Women's Cricket Committee, notably appointing former India captain Mithali Raj and the current India women's coach, Amol Muzumdar, to the key administrative body.