World Netball Unveils Format Enhancements for 2027 World Cup to Boost Commercial Appeal

World Netball has announced a format changes for the 2027 Netball World Cup, aim to increase fan and player engagement, optimise broadcast opportunities, and enhance overall event presentation. 

A key alteration is the decision to stage all 64 matches at a single venue on one court.

This move is designed to streamline event logistics, elevate the in-venue fan experience, and, crucially, enhance broadcast production.

By centralising the action, World Netball can provide a more consistent and high-quality visual product for broadcasters and viewers globally, potentially increasing media rights value and sponsor visibility. The total number of matches will increase from 60 to 64, with sessions comprising two to four matches to intensify the competition schedule.

The tournament will maintain its existing seeding process, with teams ranked according to their World Netball ranking on December 1, 2026.

Phase One will retain its structure of four pools of four teams, with each team playing three matches. A significant operational change for broadcasters and content partners is that results will no longer carry over into Phases Two and Three, providing teams with a “clean slate” and potentially creating more compelling narratives as the tournament progresses.

The competition structure will intensify in subsequent phases. The top two teams from each Phase One pool will advance to compete for the Cup, while teams finishing third and fourth will vie for the newly introduced Plate competition.

In Phase Two, both Cup and Plate competitions will form new pools for a fresh round of matches. Phase Three will feature crossover semi-finals leading to final placement or classification games, with no draws permitted at this stage. All teams will ultimately be ranked from 1 to 16, with the Plate winner being the ninth-place team overall.

The introduction of the Plate competition aims to ensure competitive and meaningful matches for all participating nations throughout the extended 12-day tournament, providing more storytelling opportunities for content partners and maintaining engagement beyond just the top contenders.

The extension of the tournament to 12 days also addresses player welfare, ensuring equitable recovery time between matches. This focus on athlete health and performance can contribute to a higher quality of play, which in turn benefits the sport’s overall commercial appeal.

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