ICC Men's Cricket World Cup
The 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup is the oldest and most prestigious limited-overs tournament. This page shows live scores during the event, and explains the format and history in between.
Every four years; the next edition is scheduled for 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Format
The format has changed several times. The 2019 and 2023 editions used a ten-team single round-robin in which every side played every other side once, followed by semi-finals and a final. From 2027 the tournament returns to 14 teams. Under the format the ICC confirmed in July 2026, the three lowest-ranked qualifiers first play a round-robin Super Series, with only the winner going through; the other 12 are split into two groups of six, and the top three in each group plus the best fourth-placed side form a Super 7 round-robin, whose top four reach the semi-finals. Qualification combines automatic places for hosts and top-ranked sides with a global qualifying tournament for the rest.
Because every league match can decide a semi-final place, net run rate is frequently decisive in the closing rounds. Our guide explains how net run rate is calculated, and the DLS guide covers how rain-affected World Cup matches are decided.
Past winners
| Year | Host | Winner | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | England | West Indies | Australia |
| 1979 | England | West Indies | England |
| 1983 | England | India | West Indies |
| 1987 | India & Pakistan | Australia | England |
| 1992 | Australia & New Zealand | Pakistan | England |
| 1996 | India, Pakistan & Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Australia |
| 1999 | England | Australia | Pakistan |
| 2003 | South Africa, Zimbabwe & Kenya | Australia | India |
| 2007 | West Indies | Australia | Sri Lanka |
| 2011 | India, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh | India | Sri Lanka |
| 2015 | Australia & New Zealand | Australia | New Zealand |
| 2019 | England & Wales | England | New Zealand |
| 2023 | India | Australia | India |
Australia have won the trophy six times, including three in a row from 1999 to 2007. The 2019 final at Lord's was tied after both the match and the Super Over, and England were awarded the title on boundaries scored, a rule the ICC later removed.
Frequently asked questions
How often is the Cricket World Cup held?
Every four years. The 2023 edition was in India; the 2027 edition is scheduled for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia with 14 teams.
How many overs are in a World Cup match?
Fifty per side, with the standard ODI powerplay and fielding restrictions. Rain-affected matches use the DLS method to reset targets.
Facts on this page were last checked on 24 October 2026. If something is out of date, tell us.