World Netball has stepped forward to address a wave of questions following its recent announcement of a revamped competition format for the 2027 Netball World Cup (NWC2027). Among the biggest changes are the introduction of Cup and Plate competitions and an overall structure designed to improve fairness, fan experience, and recovery time for players.
In an effort to demystify the updates and reassure fans and federations, World Netball issued a detailed breakdown of how the tournament will work—from team qualification to match scheduling and the new phase structure.
The qualification process for the NWC2027 remains unchanged, as the top five teams in the World Netball Rankings as of December 1, 2025, along with host nation Australia, will receive automatic invitations. The remaining 10 spots will be decided through five Regional Qualifiers, where the top two teams from each zone will advance. These qualifiers will take place between January 1 and September 30, 2026.
All 64 matches will be played in a single venue on one court, a move World Netball says is aimed at enhancing the broadcast product, fan experience, and event presentation. This approach also ensures equal exposure and opportunity for every team, with two to four matches scheduled per session. It will also see a slight increase from the 60 matches previously played under the old format.
Reigning champions Australia will host the 2027 tournament.
World Netball explained that seeding will still be determined based on the World Netball Rankings as of December 1, 2026, but the format introduces equitable seeding over advantage seeding for the top eight teams. By virtue of that, Pool A will consist of the first and fifth-ranked teams, Pool B will consist of the second and sixth, Pool C will have the third and seventh-ranked teams, while Pool D will have the fourth and eighth.
Teams ranked ninth to 12th and 13th to 16th will be drawn randomly. This method, World Netball said, encourages tighter competition in early rounds and offers more opportunities for lower-ranked teams to climb the rankings.
Meanwhile, the opening round keeps the familiar structure, as there will be four pools of four teams, with each side playing three round-robin matches within their group. However, one important change is the fact that, unlike previous tournaments, no results will carry over to the next stage, which somewhat levels the playing field as teams advance.
After the first phase of competition, the top two teams from each pool will move into the Cup competition, while the bottom two teams will go into the new Plate competition. In phase two, both the Cup and Plate divisions will split into two new groups of four, each made up of one team from each original pool. Again, a round-robin format will determine who progresses.
England Roses, the 2023 beaten finalists.
Phase three will feature crossover semi-finals and final placement matches in both categories. All matches in this phase will be played to a result—no draws allowed.
According to World Netball, this structure ensures all 16 teams finish the tournament with a defined final ranking from first to 16th. The Cup winner will be crowned World Champion, while the team finishing ninth will take home the Plate title.
World Netball believes the new format is easier to understand, more competitive, and more engaging. It added that the structure offers clearer storylines, maintains intensity across all stages of the tournament, and ensures all teams play meaningful matches right to the final whistle.