England to Host 2027, 2029 & 2031 WTC Finals
- TPP
- Jul 20
- 3 min read
In a major announcement at its annual conference in Singapore, the International Cricket Council (ICC) declared that England will host the next three ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals in 2027, 2029, and 2031.
The decision reflects England's continued role as the central stage for the WTC finals, owing to its cricketing heritage, favorable June weather conditions, and well-established infrastructure for hosting global sporting events. These matches are expected to align with the English cricket season, which typically runs from April to September, ensuring optimal conditions for Test cricket.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has been officially awarded hosting rights for the three upcoming editions, extending its role as the home of the WTC final until 2031. So far, all three World Test Championship finals since the tournament’s inception have been held in England: the 2021 final in Southampton, the 2023 final at The Oval, and the most recent 2025 edition at Lord’s, where South Africa defeated defending champions Australia. This continued selection underscores the ICC’s confidence in ECB’s “successful track record in hosting recent finals,” as noted in their official statement.
Richard Gould, Chief Executive of the ECB, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We are absolutely delighted that England and Wales has been chosen to host the next three ICC World Test Championship finals. It’s a testament to the passion that fans in this country have for this treasured format of the game and the willingness of supporters from around the world to travel here for these games.” He further added that hosting the finals is a privilege, and the ECB is committed to working closely with the ICC to build on the success of previous editions.
The success of recent finals was evident in numbers. The 2025 final at Lord’s, where South Africa triumphed, recorded a massive attendance of 109,227 people over four days and attracted over 225 million digital views, according to an ICC report.
The 2023 final at The Oval between Australia and India was completely sold out, and similarly, the first four days of the 2025 final at Lord’s also saw full capacity crowds, with the match concluding on the fourth day.
Despite England’s hosting role, it’s notable that England has not yet reached a WTC final, finishing fifth in the 2023–25 cycle. Meanwhile, other cricketing nations, including India, had reportedly hoped to host the 2027 final, but the ICC ultimately awarded the opportunity to ECB due to its consistent hosting success and fan engagement.
In addition to WTC developments, the ICC also addressed broader global cricket matters at the conference. The ICC board received an update on support initiatives for Afghanistan’s displaced women cricketers, who have faced extreme restrictions on sports participation since the Taliban's return to power in 2021. In April, the ICC announced the formation of a dedicated taskforce to assist these female athletes, with support from the ECB, Cricket Australia, and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Many of Afghanistan's top female cricketers have fled the country, as female participation in sports has been effectively outlawed under the current regime.
The ICC noted that this program will offer structured support through high-performance initiatives, domestic playing opportunities, and integration into key global events such as the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 in India and the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England. This effort is part of the ICC’s broader commitment to gender equity in cricket and the global development of women’s sport.
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