The countdown to the biggest ODI event in cricket has officially begun. The International Cricket Council has revealed the full schedule for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, confirming that the tournament will start on 2 October 2027 and finish with the final in Johannesburg on 21 November 2027. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will share hosting duties, bringing the World Cup back to African soil for the first time in 24 years.
The schedule was unveiled at a ceremony in Cape Town on 1 October 2026, exactly one year before the opening matches. The ticket ballot for fans opened on the same day.
Cricket World Cup 2027 at a glance
- Tournament: ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, the 14th edition
- Hosts: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia
- Dates: 2 October to 21 November 2027
- Teams: 14
- Matches: 57 across 12 venues
- Final: Johannesburg, 21 November 2027
- Theme: Three Nations, One Heartbeat
- Defending champions: Australia
This is the first men's World Cup in Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya hosted together. It is also a landmark moment for Namibia, which will stage matches at a senior ICC tournament for the first time. Zimbabwe returns to the World Cup stage after an absence of 12 years.
When does the 2027 World Cup start?
The tournament begins on 2 October 2027 with a three team Super Series in Namibia. The main action then moves to the big stadiums of South Africa and Zimbabwe, with the group stage opening on 7 October.
Australia and India will play the first group match at Newlands in Cape Town on 7 October. That meeting is a rematch of the 2023 final, which Australia won to claim their sixth World Cup title.
A new World Cup format
The 2027 edition brings back a 14 team field, the biggest since 2011, and introduces a fresh three round structure before the semi finals.
Round 1: Super Series
Three teams, the runner up, third placed and fourth placed sides from the World Cup Qualifier, play each other once in Namibia. Only the team that finishes on top moves into the group stage.
Round 2: Group Stage
Twelve teams are split into two groups of six. Ten of them have already qualified directly, and the other two are the Qualifier winner and the Super Series winner. Every team plays the others in its group once, which adds up to 30 matches. The top three from each group, plus the best fourth placed team across both groups, move on.
Round 3: Super 7
The seven qualifying teams play a full round robin, with every side facing each of the others once for 21 matches. The ICC has pre seeded teams into fixed Super 7 positions so that fans can plan travel and tickets early. The top four teams then reach the semi finals, where first place meets fourth and second meets third.
Group A and Group B
Group A: India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Group B: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
Four places are still open. They will be decided at the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in 2027. The Qualifier winner joins the group stage, while the next three teams start in the Super Series.
Key fixtures every fan should know
- 7 October: India v Australia, Newlands, Cape Town
- 8 October: Afghanistan v Pakistan, Centurion
- 8 October: England v Bangladesh, Windhoek
- 9 October: Zimbabwe v Qualifier A, Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- 10 October: India v Pakistan, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Late October: Zimbabwe host India at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls, the first World Cup match at the famous venue
The India v Pakistan clash on 10 October is the match most supporters will circle first. It closes a packed opening weekend that also includes Sri Lanka's first game against Qualifier B in Windhoek.
Semi finals and final
The first semi final will be played in Cape Town on 17 November, and the second in Centurion on 18 November. The winners meet in the final at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 21 November 2027.
Venues for the 2027 World Cup
South Africa (eight venues): Johannesburg, Centurion (Tshwane), Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City (formerly East London).
Zimbabwe (three venues): Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
Namibia (one venue): Windhoek.
How to get World Cup 2027 tickets
Tickets are being sold through a ballot system. Registration is free and no payment is taken when you enter. Here is what fans need to know:
- You can enter the ballot at tickets.cricketworldcup.com.
- You may submit one entry per person for each match, and you can enter for several matches.
- The ballot is not first come, first served. When demand is higher than supply, winners are picked at random.
- The ballot stays open until 23:59 South African time on 21 November 2026.
- Successful and unsuccessful applicants are told by email.
- Prices range from roughly 9.50 US dollars for entry level seats to around 30 US dollars for the biggest matches, depending on exchange rates.
- Family bundles, student and pensioner prices, and special rates for clubs and schools are also on offer.
What this means for fans
With 57 matches spread over seven weeks, a bigger field and a Super 7 round where every team plays the other six, there is less room for one bad day than in a knockout heavy tournament. Pakistan supporters can already see a demanding path, with Afghanistan, India and Zimbabwe in their group and Australia and England among the sides they could meet later. For fans of every team, the new format promises more meaningful matches deep into the competition.
CricRox will keep covering the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 with schedule updates, qualifier results, squad news, rankings and live scores as the tournament comes closer.
Cricket World Cup 2027: frequently asked questions
When will the Cricket World Cup 2027 take place?
The tournament runs from 2 October to 21 November 2027.
Where will the 2027 World Cup be played?
It will be hosted jointly by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia across 12 venues.
How many teams will play in the 2027 World Cup?
Fourteen teams will take part, and 57 matches will be played.
When is India v Pakistan in the 2027 World Cup?
The two teams meet on 10 October 2027 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Where is the 2027 World Cup final?
The final will be played in Johannesburg on 21 November 2027.
Who are the defending champions?
Australia won the 2023 World Cup, beating India in the final.
