South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia set to host 14-team tournament from October 2 to November 21
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has announced the full schedule for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with the tournament set to take place across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21.
The tournament will begin with a three-team Super Series in Windhoek on October 2, which will determine the final team to qualify for the Group Stage. The World Cup itself will conclude with the final in Johannesburg on November 21.
14 Teams to Compete
A total of 14 teams will compete in the tournament.
Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically, alongside the eight highest-ranked teams in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the September 30, 2026 cut-off.
The remaining four places will be decided through the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. The winner of the qualifier will progress directly to the Group Stage, while the other three teams will enter the Super Series in Namibia.
The three teams will play a single round-robin competition, with the team finishing top claiming the final Group Stage spot.
Group Stage Begins With India-Australia Rematch
Group Stage action begins on October 7 in Cape Town, with defending champions Australia facing India in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.
South Africa will begin their campaign on October 9 against New Zealand in Cape Town, while Zimbabwe will open their tournament against Afghanistan in Bulawayo on October 11.
One of the most anticipated fixtures of the Group Stage will see India face Pakistan in Johannesburg on October 10.
England will meet Sri Lanka in Namibia on October 13, while India will face Zimbabwe at the new venue in Victoria Falls in the final Group Stage match.
Super 7 Qualification
The top three teams from each of the two groups will advance to the Super 7 phase.
The seventh position will go to the fourth-placed team with the better record across the two groups.
Unlike some previous tournament formats, no points will be carried over from the Group Stage. Each of the seven Super 7 teams will play six matches between October 25 and November 14.
To provide greater certainty for fans and teams, the ICC has assigned pre-seeded positions:
– A1: India
– A2: Australia
– A3: Pakistan
– A4: England
– B1: New Zealand
– B2: South Africa
– B3: Sri Lanka
These positions determine the fixture pathway in the Super 7 phase.
For example, the opening Super 7 fixture on October 25 in Johannesburg is scheduled as A2 vs B3. If both Australia and Sri Lanka qualify, that match would be Australia vs Sri Lanka.
If a non-seeded team qualifies while one of the designated teams does not, the qualifying team will assume that team’s allocated position.
Semi-Finals and Final
The top four teams at the end of the Super 7 phase will progress to the semi-finals.
The team finishing first will face the fourth-placed team, while the second-placed side will meet the team finishing third.
The first semi-final will take place in Cape Town on November 17, with the second semi-final scheduled for Tshwane on November 18.
Both semi-finals will have reserve days.
The tournament final will be held at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 21, with November 22 allocated as the reserve day.
All three knockout matches are scheduled as day games beginning at 10:00 local time.
Shah Welcomes World Cup Schedule
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the schedule announcement and opening of the ticket ballot represented major milestones ahead of the tournament.
“The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations,” Shah said.
He also highlighted the ICC’s focus on affordable ticketing and greater accessibility for families, young people and local communities.
Ticket Ballot Opens
The ICC has opened the ticket ballot, allowing fans around the world to register for an opportunity to purchase tickets for the tournament.
Ticket prices will range from USD $9.62 (R158) for entry-level tickets to USD $31.31 (R514) for the highest-tier matches.
Special ticketing options will also be available, including family bundles, student and pensioner pricing, early-bird local allocations, and community club and school group packages.
12 Venues Across Three Nations
The tournament will be staged across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host all three Super Series matches as well as three Group Stage fixtures.
Zimbabwe will host matches at Harare, Bulawayo and the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls.
In South Africa, matches will be played across Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City and Gqeberha.
With the schedule now confirmed, teams and fans can begin planning for a seven-week World Cup that will feature a new tournament structure, major rivalries and some of the world’s most iconic cricket venues.
Full Cricket World Cup Schedule
