The ICC Cricket World Cup is heading back to Africa. On 1 October 2026, the International Cricket Council unveiled the full schedule for the 2027 edition at a launch event in Cape Town, exactly one year before the tournament begins. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the event together under the banner of Three Nations, One Heartbeat.
This page covers everything confirmed so far: the start date, full schedule and key fixtures, teams, format, venues, tickets, points table, records and tournament history. Where details are still to be announced, such as team squads and ticket prices, that is stated clearly.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 |
| Edition | 14th |
| Dates | 2 October to 21 November 2027 |
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches | 57 |
| Venues | 12 |
| Format | One Day International (50 overs) |
| Defending champions | Australia |
World Cup 2027 Start Date and Key Dates
The tournament begins on 2 October 2027 and the final will be played on 21 November 2027. These are the dates confirmed at the official schedule launch.
- 2 October 2027: Tournament begins with the Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia
- 7 October 2027: Group stage begins. India face defending champions Australia at Newlands, Cape Town, in a repeat of the 2023 final
- 25 October to 14 November 2027: Super 7 stage
- 17 November 2027: First semi-final, Cape Town
- 18 November 2027: Second semi-final, Tshwane (Centurion)
- 21 November 2027: Final, Johannesburg
Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule and Fixtures
The ICC released the official fixture list on 1 October 2026. The tournament opens with a Super Series in Windhoek involving the three lowest ranked qualified teams, played as a round robin, with the winner moving into the group stage. The group stage then starts on 7 October with one of the biggest rivalries in the sport.
These are the headline fixtures confirmed so far:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 October 2027 | India vs Australia | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 8 October 2027 | Afghanistan vs Pakistan | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| 8 October 2027 | England vs Bangladesh | Windhoek |
| 9 October 2027 | Zimbabwe vs Qualifier A | Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo |
| 9 October 2027 | South Africa vs New Zealand | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 10 October 2027 | India vs Pakistan | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| 14 October 2027 | India vs Afghanistan | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| 17 October 2027 | India vs Qualifier A | Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein |
| 24 October 2027 | India vs Zimbabwe | Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium, Victoria Falls |
| 17 November 2027 | Semi-final 1 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| 18 November 2027 | Semi-final 2 | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| 21 November 2027 | Final | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
India, Pakistan and Australia have been placed together in Group A, which already promises some of the most watched matches of the tournament. For the complete match by match timetable with start times, see the official ICC schedule announcement and the full fixture list on Olympics.com.
CWC 2027 Format
The 2027 edition brings back the expanded 14 team format last used before the 2019 and 2023 tournaments, which featured only 10 teams. The competition will be played in four stages.
Super Series: The three lowest ranked of the 14 qualified teams play a round robin in Windhoek. The winner advances to the group stage.
Group stage: Twelve teams are split into two groups of six. Every team plays the others in its group once. India, Pakistan and Australia headline Group A.
Super 7: The top three teams from each group, plus the highest ranked fourth placed team across the two groups, move into the Super 7 stage.
Knockouts: The Super 7 is followed by two semi-finals and the final in Johannesburg on 21 November 2027.
World Cup 2027 Teams and Team List
Ten of the fourteen teams are already confirmed. South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified automatically as hosts. The other eight direct spots went to the leading teams in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the cut off date of 30 September 2026.
Qualified teams: South Africa, Zimbabwe, India, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh.
The remaining four places will be decided through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, scheduled for early 2027. The team that finishes first in the Qualifier goes straight into the group stage, while the next three teams contest the Super Series for the final group stage berth. West Indies, champions in 1975 and 1979, are among the sides that must come through the qualifying route.
World Cup 2027 Squads and Players List
Team squads for the 2027 World Cup have not been announced yet. Squads are usually named around a month before the tournament begins, and four of the fourteen teams are still to qualify. This section will be updated with the full player lists for every team once the squads are officially confirmed.
World Cup 2027 Venues and Grounds
Twelve venues across the three host nations will stage the 57 matches. South Africa will host the bulk of the tournament at eight grounds, Zimbabwe will use three venues, and Namibia will host World Cup matches for the first time.
South Africa (8 venues)
- Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
- SuperSport Park, Centurion (Tshwane)
- Kingsmead, Durban
- St George’s Park, Gqeberha
- Boland Park, Paarl
- Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
- Buffalo Park, East London
Zimbabwe (3 venues)
- Harare Sports Club, Harare
- Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls (new venue)
Namibia (1 venue)
- Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
The new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls is expected to be completed in 2026 and will host domestic cricket before its official inauguration in May 2027. Zimbabwe return as World Cup hosts for the first time since co hosting the 2003 edition with South Africa.
World Cup 2027 Points Table
The points table will take shape once the tournament begins on 2 October 2027. Teams earn two points for a win, one for a no result or tie, and none for a loss. If teams finish level on points, net run rate decides the standings, followed by head to head results where applicable.
Net run rate often plays a decisive role in tight groups. You can read how net run rate is calculated and why it matters in our detailed explainer. This page will carry the updated points table for the group stage and the Super 7 once matches begin.
World Cup 2027 Tickets and Ticket Prices
The ICC opened the official ticket ballot at the schedule launch ceremony in Cape Town on 1 October 2026. Fans across the world can now register their interest for tickets through the official ICC ticketing platform.
Ticket prices for individual matches and categories will be confirmed through the ballot process. To avoid fake sellers, buy only through the official ICC channels and check the final price for your selected match and seating category before completing a purchase.
Live Broadcast and Live Score
Official broadcast partners and streaming platforms for the 2027 World Cup will be announced by the ICC closer to the tournament. Television and digital rights for ICC events are sold region by region, so the channel will differ depending on where you watch from.
For ball by ball live scores, platforms such as Cricbuzz and ESPNcricinfo will carry live coverage of every match, along with the official ICC website and app. Live score updates for each game will also be available here on match days.
World Cup Records and Statistics
Ahead of the 2027 edition, these are the major all time records in Men’s ODI World Cup history.
Batting records
- Most runs in World Cup history: Sachin Tendulkar (India), 2,278 runs
- Most runs in a single edition: Sachin Tendulkar, 673 runs in 2003
- Highest individual score: Martin Guptill (New Zealand), 237 not out vs West Indies, 2015
- Most centuries: Rohit Sharma (India), 7
Bowling records
- Most wickets in World Cup history: Glenn McGrath (Australia), 71 wickets
- Best bowling figures: Glenn McGrath, 7 for 15 vs Namibia, 2003
Team records
- Highest team total: South Africa, 428 for 5 vs Sri Lanka, Delhi, 2023
- Lowest team total: Canada, 36 all out vs Sri Lanka, 2003
- Longest unbeaten streak: Australia, 34 matches between the 1999 and 2011 editions
History of the Cricket World Cup
The first Cricket World Cup was played in England in 1975, and West Indies lifted the trophy after beating Australia in the final at Lord’s. They defended their title in 1979, again in England.
India’s famous win in 1983, when Kapil Dev’s side beat the mighty West Indies at Lord’s, changed cricket in the subcontinent forever. India won again on home soil in 2011 under MS Dhoni. Australia have dominated the tournament’s history with six titles, including three in a row from 1999 to 2007, and most recently in 2023 when they beat India in the final in Ahmedabad. England won their first title in 2019 in a dramatic final against New Zealand that was decided by a Super Over after the match and the Super Over both finished tied.
All World Cup winners
| Year | Winner | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1975 | West Indies | England |
| 1979 | West Indies | England |
| 1983 | India | England |
| 1987 | Australia | India, Pakistan |
| 1992 | Pakistan | Australia, New Zealand |
| 1996 | Sri Lanka | India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka |
| 1999 | Australia | England |
| 2003 | Australia | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya |
| 2007 | West Indies | West Indies |
| 2011 | India | India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh |
| 2015 | Australia | Australia, New Zealand |
| 2019 | England | England, Wales |
| 2023 | Australia | India |
| 2027 | To be decided | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia |
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 start?
The tournament starts on 2 October 2027 with the Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia. The group stage begins on 7 October, and the final is scheduled for 21 November 2027 in Johannesburg.
Where will the 2027 World Cup be played?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will co host the tournament across 12 venues, including Newlands in Cape Town, Wanderers in Johannesburg, Harare Sports Club and the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls.
How many teams are playing in the 2027 World Cup?
Fourteen teams will take part, playing 57 matches. Ten teams have already qualified and four more will come through the Qualifier in early 2027.
How can I buy tickets for the 2027 World Cup?
The ICC opened an official ticket ballot on 1 October 2026. Register through the official ICC ticketing platform and buy only from official channels.
When will the team squads be announced?
Squads are expected to be named closer to the tournament, usually about a month before it begins. Four teams are also yet to qualify, so final player lists will follow the Qualifier in early 2027.
Who won the last Cricket World Cup?
Australia are the defending champions. They beat India in the final of the 2023 World Cup in Ahmedabad to lift their sixth title.
Final Word
The 2027 World Cup shapes up as a landmark event: the tournament’s return to Africa after 24 years, a first for Namibia as hosts, a new Super Series and Super 7 format, and a blockbuster opening weekend headlined by India against Australia. With the schedule now official and the ticket ballot open, the countdown has truly begun. Bookmark this page, as it will be updated with squads, the points table and match results as the tournament approaches and gets underway.