By Tanzeel Ul Rehman | September 29, 2026
The Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule will be revealed by the ICC and Cricket South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday, October 1, 2026. The tournament itself runs from October 4 to November 21, 2027, across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, with 14 teams and 57 matches at 12 venues. On the same day, the ICC plans to open a ballot for fans to register for tickets.
What we know before the launch: which 10 teams are already in, how the new three stage format works, and which grounds will host. What the launch will answer is the part fans care about most, the actual fixtures. That includes where India and Pakistan will meet, and where the final will be played. Below we cover all of it, plus a few predictions of our own.
Cricket World Cup 2027 at a Glance
| Detail | What we know |
|---|---|
| Schedule launch | Thursday, October 1, 2026, Cape Town |
| Tournament dates | October 4 to November 21, 2027 |
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches | 57 |
| Venues | 12 (8 in South Africa, 3 in Zimbabwe, 1 in Namibia) |
| Match split | South Africa 44, Zimbabwe 10, Namibia 3 |
| Semi finals | November 17 and 18, 2027 |
| Final | November 21, 2027 |
| Tournament slogan | “Three Nations, One Heartbeat” |
This will be the first men’s 50 over World Cup in Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya shared hosting. Two of those three hosts are back, and Namibia replaces Kenya.
What Exactly Will Be Announced in Cape Town on October 1?
The launch on October 1 marks roughly one year to go before the first ball. Based on what the ICC has said, fans should expect:
- The full fixture list for all 57 matches, with dates and venues.
- Where the knockouts will be played, including the venue for the final on November 21, 2027.
- The exact route through the new format, including how teams move from the group stage into the Super 7.
- Ticket ballot registration. Fans will be able to sign up for a chance to buy tickets. Tickets will not go on sale that day. The ballot is a registration step, and sales come later.
What to do on launch day: register for the ticket ballot early on the official ICC website, even if you are not sure you will travel. Registration usually costs nothing and keeps your options open. Then check where your team plays before you look at flights. With 12 venues across three countries, some group games will be a long way apart.
The one thing the launch will not settle is who fills the final four places. That will be decided at the Qualifier early in 2027.
Which Teams Have Already Qualified for the 2027 World Cup?
Ten of the 14 places are settled. The two main hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe, qualify automatically. The other eight spots go to the top ranked ODI sides at the cutoff date of September 30, 2026.
| Team | How they qualified |
|---|---|
| South Africa | Co host |
| Zimbabwe | Co host |
| India | ODI rankings |
| New Zealand | ODI rankings |
| Pakistan | ODI rankings |
| Australia | ODI rankings |
| England | ODI rankings |
| Sri Lanka | ODI rankings |
| Afghanistan | ODI rankings |
| Bangladesh | ODI rankings |
The biggest story is who is not on that list. West Indies, winners of the first two World Cups in 1975 and 1979, have to go through the Qualifier again. They failed to reach the 2023 World Cup at all after losing to Scotland and the Netherlands in the 2023 Qualifier in Zimbabwe. Missing two World Cups in a row would be a huge blow to Caribbean cricket.
Ireland are in the same position. And there is an odd twist with Namibia. They are co hosts, with matches in Windhoek, but they are not guaranteed a place because they are not a Full Member. Namibia could host World Cup games without playing in the tournament unless they qualify.
How Does the New Format Work in the Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule?
The 2027 World Cup uses a format that has never been used at this event before. It has three stages before the semi finals.
Stage 1: Super Series (3 matches). The three lowest ranked teams play each other once. The winner moves on to the group stage and the other two go home. For those three teams, a whole World Cup can come down to two games.
Stage 2: Group Stage (30 matches). Twelve teams split into two groups of six, and each team plays the others in its group once.
Stage 3: Super 7 (21 matches). The leading teams from the two groups form a single table of seven and play each other once. The top four go through.
Knockouts (3 matches). Two semi finals on November 17 and 18, then the final on November 21.
Here is why this format matters. In the 2023 World Cup, 10 teams played a single league of 45 games before the semi finals. Every team played nine matches, and a bad start could be fixed. The 2027 format adds more jeopardy. A strong team that loses two group games could miss the Super 7. The exact tiebreak rules and how points carry into the Super 7 are among the details we expect the launch to confirm.
Where Will the Cricket World Cup 2027 Be Played?
South Africa (8 venues, 44 matches)
| City | Ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Wanderers Stadium | 34,000 |
| Cape Town | Newlands | 25,000 |
| Durban | Kingsmead | 25,000 |
| Centurion | SuperSport Park | 22,000 |
| Bloemfontein | Mangaung Oval | 20,000 |
| Gqeberha | St George’s Park | 19,000 |
| East London (KuGompo City) | Buffalo Park | 16,000 |
| Paarl | Boland Park | 10,000 |
Zimbabwe (3 venues, 10 matches)
| City | Ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Bulawayo | Queens Sports Club | 12,500 |
| Harare | Harare Sports Club | 10,000 |
| Victoria Falls | Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium | 10,000 |
Namibia (1 venue, at least 3 matches)
| City | Ground | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Windhoek | Namibia Cricket Ground | 7,000 |
Of all the grounds in the Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule, the one that has fans most curious is Victoria Falls. A World Cup match next to one of the natural wonders of the world would be a first for the sport. Australia’s recent ODI tour of Zimbabwe gave a preview of conditions there, which we covered in our Zimbabwe vs Australia Harare preview.
Where Will the 2027 World Cup Final Be Played?
The venue for the final has not been officially confirmed, and it is the most anticipated detail of the Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule launch on October 1.
Our prediction: the Wanderers in Johannesburg. There are three reasons. It is the largest ground on the list, with 34,000 seats. It hosted the 2003 World Cup final, when Australia beat India. And it has the best transport and hotel links of any venue in the region. Newlands in Cape Town is the main alternative, with its Table Mountain backdrop and strong commercial appeal.
The semi finals are likely to be split between two of the larger South African grounds, with Kingsmead in Durban and Centurion the likely candidates alongside whichever of Newlands or the Wanderers does not get the final.
There is also a weather angle. November on South Africa’s Highveld, which includes Johannesburg, Centurion and Bloemfontein, is thunderstorm season, with afternoon storms common. Cape Town is usually drier at that time of year. If the organisers want to reduce the risk of a washout in the knockouts, that is a quiet argument for Newlands. After the washouts we have seen at the Asian Games this week, where two quarter finals were decided on ranking, that risk is worth taking seriously.
When and Where Could India vs Pakistan Be Played?
This is the fixture that will get the most attention on launch day. India vs Pakistan is the most watched match in world cricket, and there is no political problem with playing it in South Africa, since neither team is the host.
The question is where it will be placed. There are three realistic options:
- Johannesburg, for the biggest crowd capacity in the region and the large South Asian community in Gauteng.
- Centurion, which hosted India vs Pakistan at the 2003 World Cup, the game remembered for Sachin Tendulkar’s 98.
- Durban, home to one of the largest South Asian communities outside Asia.
- An early group stage slot, which broadcasters usually prefer, to lift interest in the tournament from the first week.
One thing works in favour of Asian viewers. South Africa is only three and a half hours behind India and three hours behind Pakistan. A standard 10:30 AM or 1:30 PM local start becomes an afternoon or evening game in South Asia. For fans in India and Pakistan, that is far easier viewing than a World Cup in Australia, England or the Caribbean.
Of course, India and Pakistan still need to be drawn in the same group, or meet later. The group draw may be revealed at the launch or soon after.
Why Does Africa Hosting Matter for the Teams?
South African conditions are unlike the slow, spin friendly pitches of the 2023 World Cup in India. Grounds like the Wanderers and Centurion offer pace, bounce and a quick outfield, and the altitude on the Highveld helps the ball fly. Coastal grounds like Kingsmead and Newlands offer more swing, and Kingsmead has helped spinners at times.
That shapes how teams are building their squads now. Look at recent series:
- Australia have just played ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa back to back, and their selectors said openly that the tour was chosen because it was in the World Cup host countries. See our Australia in South Africa 2026 tour guide.
- India are using their home ODI series against West Indies to test depth, with Bumrah and Hardik absent. Our West Indies tour of India 2026 guide tracks that series.
- Namibia and Zimbabwe have been playing regular white ball cricket at home, including the recent Namibia T20I tri series, to build experience at their own venues.
Teams with fast bowlers who hit the pitch hard and batters who can play the short ball will have the edge. That is good news for Australia, South Africa, England and India’s pace attack, and a real test for sides that rely on spin.
What Happened the Last Time South Africa Hosted?
History gives South African fans a reason for caution. At the 2003 World Cup, South Africa were the hosts and one of the favourites. They went out in the group stage after a rain affected tie against Sri Lanka in Durban. The team had misread the Duckworth Lewis target and believed they only needed to tie. Shaun Pollock, their captain, lost the job soon after.
That tournament was also shaped by off field issues in Zimbabwe. England refused to play their match in Harare, and New Zealand refused to travel to Kenya. Both forfeited points. It was a reminder that a multi country World Cup brings travel and security questions that single host events do not.
Much has changed since then. Zimbabwe are hosting 10 matches across three well prepared grounds, and the organisers are presenting the three nations as one tournament. But planning across three countries will still be a big part of what the October 1 schedule has to get right.
Who Are the Early Favourites for the 2027 World Cup?
The Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule will not change who is good, but it will shape who has the easier path. Before the fixtures come out, this is how the contenders look.
India go in ranked number one in ODIs and with the deepest pool of players in the world. Their question is age. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will both be close to 40 by the final, and the next year is about deciding whether they are still the right openers and number three on bouncy pitches.
South Africa have home conditions and the memory of 2003 to put right. They have won their last two ODI series against Australia and have a spin pair, Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin, that has troubled even strong batting sides. Their record in knockout games is still the doubt that follows them into every World Cup.
Australia are the defending champions from 2023 and have the best fast bowling attack for these conditions, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. If all three are fit in November 2027, Australia will be the side to beat on pace friendly grounds.
New Zealand and England are the dark horses. New Zealand sit second in the rankings and always perform at World Cups. England have the batting power to score 350 at the Wanderers on a good day.
Pakistan have the fast bowlers for South Africa, but their ODI results have been uneven. Where and when they play India in the group stage could shape their whole campaign.
Our early order of favourites: Australia, India, South Africa, then New Zealand.
Our Early Predictions for the Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule
A few calls before the fixtures are released:
- South Africa will open the tournament at either the Wanderers or Newlands on October 4, 2027.
- Zimbabwe will play most of its group games at home, with a marquee match at Victoria Falls.
- India vs Pakistan will be a group stage game in Gauteng, probably on a weekend.
- The final will be at the Wanderers, with Newlands hosting a semi final.
- West Indies will qualify through the Qualifier, but only just, and Namibia will join them as a home based qualifier.
We will check these against the real schedule after the launch and publish an update, as we do with our match predictions.
For other ODI cricket happening right now, see our ODI Tri Nation Series in UAE 2026 schedule.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule FAQs
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When will the Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule be announced?
The ICC and Cricket South Africa will announce the full schedule in Cape Town on Thursday, October 1, 2026, about one year before the tournament starts.
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When does the 2027 Cricket World Cup start and end?
The tournament runs from October 4 to November 21, 2027. The semi finals are on November 17 and 18, and the final is on November 21.
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Which countries are hosting the 2027 World Cup?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. South Africa hosts 44 matches, Zimbabwe 10 and Namibia at least 3.
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How many teams will play in the 2027 World Cup?
Fourteen teams. Ten have qualified already: South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The last four places will be decided at the Qualifier from February 22 to March 23, 2027.
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Have West Indies qualified for the 2027 World Cup?
Not yet. West Indies did not finish in the top eight of the ODI rankings, so they must go through the 2027 Qualifier, as they did before missing the 2023 World Cup.
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What is the Super Series in the 2027 World Cup?
The Super Series is the first stage of the new format. The three lowest ranked teams play each other once, and only the winner moves on to the group stage. It adds three extra matches to the tournament.
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How can I get tickets for the 2027 World Cup?
The ICC opens a ticket ballot on October 1, 2026. Fans can register their interest on the official ICC website, and tickets will be sold later to those selected in the ballot.
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Where will the 2027 World Cup final be played?
The final venue will be confirmed at the October 1 launch. The Wanderers in Johannesburg, which hosted the 2003 final, is the most likely choice, with Newlands in Cape Town the main alternative.
What to Watch For
The Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule launch on October 1 turns a date on the calendar into a real tournament with fixtures. Watch for three things: the venue for the final, the date and city for India vs Pakistan, and how the new Super 7 stage is structured. Those three details will shape how fans plan their travel and how teams plan the next twelve months. Then register for the ticket ballot, because demand for the big games in South Africa is likely to be enormous.
For the official announcement, follow the ICC’s World Cup 2027 news page and ESPNcricinfo’s coverage of the tournament dates.
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