ICC Plans Major T20 World Cup Expansion, Eyes 24 Teams by 2032
ICC plans to expand the Men's T20 World Cup to 24 teams by 2032, with a long-term goal of creating a 32-team global tournament.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is pushing ahead with an ambitious plan to expand the Men’s T20 World Cup from 20 teams to 24 after the huge success of the 2026 edition in India and Sri Lanka. The move is part of the governing body’s long-term vision to make cricket a truly global sport.
According to The Telegraph in the UK, the ICC is targeting the 2032 T20 World Cup for the expansion, although discussions are also taking place over the possibility of introducing the 24-team format as early as the 2030 edition.
The proposed increase is seen as another step towards an even bigger goal. The ICC is understood to be working towards a future 32-team T20 World Cup, giving more emerging cricket nations a chance to compete on the biggest stage.
The expansion plans have gathered pace following the commercial and competitive success of the 2026 tournament. The event attracted strong fan interest, while several associate nations impressed with their performances. Teams like Nepal and Italy pushed established cricketing nations, showing the growing gap between full members and leading associate teams is narrowing.
The ICC has already designed the 2028 T20 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand with future expansion in mind. That tournament will feature five groups of four teams, followed by a Super 10 stage. The format can be adapted more easily when the competition grows to 24 teams.
A larger tournament would also benefit more associate nations. Based on the current official T20I rankings, countries such as Uganda, Papua New Guinea, Italy and Hong Kong would be among the biggest winners, with a stronger chance of qualifying for the World Cup.
There is also a strong commercial reason behind the proposal. More teams mean more matches, creating additional broadcast inventory and increasing opportunities for television and streaming platforms. It would also allow major markets like India to feature in more fixtures, boosting viewership and media rights revenue.
If approved, the expansion would mark another major milestone in cricket’s global growth, giving more nations regular exposure at the highest level while strengthening the tournament’s commercial value.
