Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027
The Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be the 14th edition of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the tournament, bringing the 50-over World Cup back to Africa for the first time since 2003.
The World Cup 2027 will be played from 4 October to 21 November 2027, with 14 teams competing across 12 venues and 57 matches. The ICC has also introduced a new tournament format, adding a Super Series and Super 7 stage before the semi-finals and final.
Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Dates
The ICC has confirmed that the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will take place during October and November 2027.
The complete match-by-match fixture list has not yet been released. Because of this, individual World Cup dates for matches involving India, Pakistan, Australia, England, or other teams should not be presented as official until the ICC publishes the final schedule.
| Tournament Detail | Information |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 |
| Edition | 14th |
| Format | ODI |
| World Cup dates | 4 October – 21 November 2027 |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches | 57 |
| Host countries | South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia |
| Host venues | 12 |
| Previous African Men’s World Cup | 2003 |
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will host the tournament across eight cities in South Africa, three cities in Zimbabwe and Windhoek in Namibia.
World Cup 2027 Teams
The World Cup 2027 teams will consist of 14 sides. The three host nations — South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia — are confirmed participants.
The remaining places are connected to the ICC’s qualification structure. The current ODI rankings also show the main full-member teams competing for direct qualification positions, while Associate teams are progressing through the World Cup qualification pathway. India will be one of the teams closely followed ahead of the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with attention also on the players who remain part of India’s ODI setup. For a closer look at India’s current ODI selection, see the India squad for the West Indies ODI 2026.
Teams in the World Cup 2027 Qualification Picture
The current ODI rankings as of September 2026 include the following teams:
| Team | Current ODI Ranking* |
| India | 1 |
| New Zealand | 2 |
| Australia | 3 |
| South Africa | 4 |
| Pakistan | 5 |
| Sri Lanka | 6 |
| England | 7 |
| Afghanistan | 8 |
| Bangladesh | 9 |
| West Indies | 10 |
| Zimbabwe | 11 |
| Ireland | 12 |
| Scotland | 13 |
| Netherlands | 14 |
| USA | 15 |
| Namibia | 16 |
| Nepal | 17 |
| Oman | 18 |
| UAE | 19 |
| Canada | 20 |
*Rankings shown are the ODI rankings available in September 2026 and should not be confused with the final World Cup qualification list.
Among these teams, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are already confirmed as co-hosts. Other teams still need to secure their places through the qualification process applicable to the 2027 tournament. The ICC has confirmed that the final event will contain 14 teams.
This distinction is important when searching for World Cup 2027 teams. A team’s current ODI ranking or participation in a qualification competition does not automatically mean that the team has already secured a place in the 2027 World Cup.
How the World Cup 2027 Qualification Works
The ICC’s qualification pathway gives teams several routes into the tournament.
The top-ranked teams that do not qualify automatically through the applicable criteria can enter the Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Teams from the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 and Qualifier Play-off also compete for places in the final tournament. The top four teams from the Qualifier earn World Cup places.
For Associate nations, League 2 and the Qualifier Play-off are particularly important. Teams such as Scotland, Netherlands, USA, Nepal, Oman, UAE and Canada are part of the wider qualification ecosystem, while other teams can still progress through the relevant competitions.
Therefore, the final list of 14 World Cup 2027 teams will only be complete once the qualification process has finished.
Which Country Hosts the Men’s World Cup 2027?
The Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be jointly hosted by:
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Namibia
This will be the first Men’s Cricket World Cup hosted in Africa since 2003. South Africa and Zimbabwe were co-hosts of the 2003 tournament alongside Kenya. Namibia will host matches at a senior Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time.
The ICC has confirmed 12 host venues for the tournament — eight in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia.
World Cup 2027 Stadiums, Capacity and Host Countries
| Stadium | City | Country | Approx. Capacity |
| Wanderers Stadium | Johannesburg | South Africa | 34,000 |
| SuperSport Park | Centurion | South Africa | 16,279 |
| Newlands Cricket Ground | Cape Town | South Africa | 25,000 |
| Kingsmead Cricket Ground | Durban | South Africa | 23,270 |
| St George’s Park | Gqeberha | South Africa | 19,000 |
| Mangaung Oval | Bloemfontein | South Africa | 15,500 |
| Boland Park | Paarl | South Africa | 8,700 |
| Buffalo Park | East London | South Africa | 12,530 |
| Harare Sports Club | Harare | Zimbabwe | 10,000 |
| Queens Sports Club | Bulawayo | Zimbabwe | 9,000 |
| Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium | Victoria Falls | Zimbabwe | 10,000 |
| Namibia Cricket Ground | Windhoek | Namibia | 7,000 |
The ICC has confirmed the venue list. Capacity figures can vary depending on seating configuration and event arrangements, so they should be treated as approximate rather than permanent tournament seating figures.
World Cup 2027 Stadiums in South Africa
South Africa will provide eight of the 12 venues for the World Cup 2027.
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Wanderers Stadium is one of South Africa’s major international cricket grounds. It will be one of the venues used during the 2027 World Cup and has a listed capacity of around 34,000.
SuperSport Park, Centurion
SuperSport Park is located in Centurion and is regularly used for international cricket. It has a listed capacity of approximately 16,279.
Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Newlands is located in Cape Town and is one of South Africa’s established international cricket venues. The ground has a capacity of approximately 25,000.
Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
Kingsmead will be one of the World Cup 2027 venues in KwaZulu-Natal. It has a listed capacity of approximately 23,270.
St George’s Park, Gqeberha
St George’s Park is one of South Africa’s historic cricket grounds. The venue has hosted major international matches and has a capacity of around 19,000.
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein will also host World Cup matches. Its listed capacity is approximately 15,500.
Boland Park, Paarl
Boland Park is situated in Paarl in the Western Cape. It has previously hosted international cricket and has a listed capacity of approximately 8,700.
Buffalo Park, East London
Buffalo Park in East London completes South Africa’s eight-venue allocation. The ICC now refers to the host city as KuGompo City, while Buffalo Park remains the stadium name. The venue has a listed capacity of around 12,530.
The eight South African venues were included in the ICC’s official 2027 host-city announcement.
World Cup 2027 Stadiums in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe will host matches at three venues.
Harare Sports Club, Harare
Harare Sports Club is one of Zimbabwe’s traditional international cricket venues. It has a listed capacity of approximately 10,000 and will be used during the 2027 World Cup.
Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo has hosted international cricket for many years. The venue has a capacity of approximately 9,000.
Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls
The Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium is a newer international cricket venue in Victoria Falls. It has a listed capacity of around 10,000 and will bring World Cup cricket to the Victoria Falls area.
The three Zimbabwean grounds were included in the ICC’s official list of 12 venues for the 2027 tournament.
World Cup 2027 Stadium in Namibia
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Namibia will host World Cup matches at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
The venue has a planned capacity of approximately 7,000 and forms part of Namibia’s investment in international cricket infrastructure.
The 2027 tournament will be the first senior Men’s Cricket World Cup hosted by Namibia.
How Many Matches Will Be Played in World Cup 2027?
The ICC has confirmed 57 matches for the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
The competition is divided as follows:
| Stage | Matches |
| Super Series | 3 |
| Group Stage | 30 |
| Super 7 | 21 |
| Semi-finals | 2 |
| Final | 1 |
| Total | 57 |
The Super Series consists of three matches between the bottom three qualified teams. The following group stage contains 30 matches, followed by 21 Super 7 matches. The top four teams from the Super 7 then enter the semi-finals.
What Is the Format of the World Cup 2027?
The World Cup 2027 format has three stages before the semi-finals.
Super Series
The three lowest-ranked teams among the 14 qualified teams will play a round-robin competition.
Each team will play two matches. The team finishing first will advance to the next stage.
Group Stage
The next round will contain 12 teams divided into two groups of six.
Each team will play the other five teams in its group.
The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-placed team across both groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage.
Super 7
Seven teams will compete in a round-robin stage consisting of 21 matches.
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.
The semi-final matchups will be:
- 1st vs 4th
- 2nd vs 3rd
The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the final.
When Will the World Cup 2027 Schedule Be Released?
The ICC has confirmed the World Cup dates as 4 October – 21 November 2027, but the complete match schedule has not yet been released.
The final schedule will provide the exact dates, venues, and opponents for individual matches. Until that announcement, dates circulating online for specific India, Pakistan, Australia or England matches should be checked against the official ICC schedule.
Which Teams Could Feature in the World Cup 2027?
The final 14-team field is not yet complete, but several major ODI nations are part of the qualification picture.
These include:
- India
- New Zealand
- Australia
- South Africa
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- England
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- West Indies
- Zimbabwe
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Netherlands
- USA
- Namibia
- Nepal
- Oman
- UAE
- Canada
This is not a confirmed 20-team World Cup lineup. It is the current group of teams visible across the ODI rankings and qualification pathway. The actual 14 teams at the World Cup will be determined by the applicable qualification process.
Why Is the 2027 World Cup Being Hosted by Three Countries?
The 2027 World Cup will be spread across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
South Africa and Zimbabwe have previous Men’s Cricket World Cup hosting experience from 2003, when they hosted the tournament alongside Kenya. Namibia’s involvement in 2027 gives the country its first opportunity to host matches at a senior Men’s Cricket World Cup.
The 12-venue setup covers major cricket cities including Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Harare, Bulawayo and Windhoek, along with Victoria Falls.
Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 FAQs
When is the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027?
The Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be played from 4 October to 21 November 2027. The exact match-by-match schedule has not yet been released by the ICC.
Which countries are hosting the Cricket World Cup 2027?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the tournament. There will be 12 venues across the three countries.
How many teams will play in the World Cup 2027?
The tournament will feature 14 teams. Three host nations are confirmed, while the remaining places will be filled through the ICC qualification process.
How many matches are there in the World Cup 2027?
The ICC has confirmed 57 matches across the Super Series, group stage, Super 7, semi-finals, and final.
Where will the World Cup 2027 final be played?
The ICC has announced the 12 host venues, but it has not yet published the individual match allocation, including the final venue.
Which stadiums will host the World Cup 2027?
The 12 venues are Wanderers Stadium, SuperSport Park, Newlands Cricket Ground, Kingsmead Cricket Ground, St George’s Park, Mangaung Oval, Boland Park, Buffalo Park, Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club, Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium and Namibia Cricket Ground.
How many countries are hosting the World Cup 2027?
Three countries — South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia — will host the Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.