The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule has officially been announced, setting up almost seven weeks of ODI cricket across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The 14th edition of the Men’s Cricket World Cup will run from October 2 to November 21, 2027, feature 14 teams and 57 matches (The 12 remaining teams at the tournament will be split into two groups of six), and introduce a significantly different tournament format featuring a preliminary Super Series, two six-team groups and a Super 7 phase before the semi-finals.
The tournament begins in Windhoek on October 2 with the first of three Super Series matches. The main Group Stage starts on October 7, when India face defending champions Australia at Newlands in Cape Town in a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final.
One of the most anticipated fixtures arrives only three days later: India vs Pakistan on October 10 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
The two semi-finals will be played in Cape Town and Tshwane on November 17 and 18, before the World Cup final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on November 21.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 |
| Edition | 14th |
| Format | One Day International – 50 overs |
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia |
| Start Date | October 2, 2027 |
| Group Stage Start | October 7, 2027 |
| Final | November 21, 2027 |
| Teams | 14 |
| Total Matches | 57 |
| Venues | 12 |
| Defending Champions | Australia |
| Semi-Final 1 | Nov 17 – Cape Town |
| Semi-Final 2 | Nov 18 – Tshwane |
| Final Venue | Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg |
The competition returns to Africa 24 years after the 2003 World Cup, which was hosted primarily by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. Namibia will stage Men’s Cricket World Cup matches for the first time.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Groups
The main group stage consists of two groups of six teams.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India | New Zealand |
| Australia | South Africa |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| Afghanistan | England |
| Zimbabwe | Bangladesh |
| Qualifier A | Qualifier B |
The two qualifying placeholders will be filled through the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier and subsequent Super Series.
Ten sides secured direct entry into the Group Stage pathway: hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe, plus the best eight eligible teams in the ICC Men’s ODI rankings at the September 30, 2026 cut-off. The remaining four World Cup positions are determined through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
New ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Format Explained
The 2027 World Cup differs substantially from the 10-team league format used in 2019 and 2023.
There are three stages before the knockout rounds.
Round 1 – Super Series
Three teams—the second, third and fourth-placed sides from the World Cup Qualifier—play a single round-robin series in Windhoek.
Each team plays twice.
The team that finishes first joins the main Group Stage.
Round 2 – Group Stage
Twelve teams compete across 30 matches.
Each group contains six teams, with every side playing the other five teams in its group once.
The top three from each group, plus the stronger of the two fourth-placed teams, progress to the Super 7.
Round 3 – Super 7
Seven teams play a full round-robin stage consisting of 21 matches.
Importantly, no points are carried forward from the initial Group Stage.
Each team therefore starts the Super 7 from zero and plays six more matches.
The top four advance to the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
The Super 7 leader faces the fourth-placed team, while second plays third.
The winners meet in the World Cup final.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Full Schedule
Super Series Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 2 | QF1 vs QF3 | Windhoek |
| October 4 | QF1 vs QF2 | Windhoek |
| October 6 | QF2 vs QF3 | Windhoek |
All three preliminary games will be played at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
The team finishing first progresses to the Group Stage.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
| Oct 8 | Pakistan vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| Oct 8 | England vs Bangladesh | Windhoek |
| Oct 9 | Zimbabwe vs Qualifier A | Bulawayo |
| Oct 9 | South Africa vs New Zealand | Cape Town |
| Oct 10 | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| Oct 10 | Sri Lanka vs Qualifier B | Windhoek |
| Oct 11 | Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan | Bulawayo |
| Oct 12 | Australia vs Qualifier A | Paarl |
| Oct 12 | New Zealand vs Bangladesh | KuGompo City |
| Oct 13 | England vs Sri Lanka | Windhoek |
| Oct 13 | South Africa vs Qualifier B | Paarl |
| Oct 14 | India vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| Oct 15 | Pakistan vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
| Oct 15 | Zimbabwe vs Australia | Harare |
| Oct 16 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Durban |
| Oct 16 | South Africa vs England | Gqeberha |
| Oct 17 | India vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
| Oct 17 | New Zealand vs Qualifier B | Harare |
| Oct 18 | Australia vs Afghanistan | KuGompo City |
| Oct 19 | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Harare |
| Oct 19 | South Africa vs Bangladesh | Durban |
| Oct 20 | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | Johannesburg |
| Oct 20 | England vs Qualifier B | Harare |
| Oct 21 | Afghanistan vs Qualifier A | KuGompo City |
| Oct 22 | Australia vs Pakistan | Paarl |
| Oct 22 | South Africa vs Sri Lanka | Johannesburg |
| Oct 23 | England vs New Zealand | Gqeberha |
| Oct 23 | Bangladesh vs Qualifier B | Tshwane |
| Oct 24 | Zimbabwe vs India | Victoria Falls |
This complete 30-match Group Stage schedule comes from the ICC’s official fixture announcement.
India Schedule at ICC World Cup 2027
India have been placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Their confirmed Group Stage schedule is:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 7 | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
| October 10 | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| October 14 | India vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| October 17 | India vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
| October 24 | India vs Zimbabwe | Victoria Falls |
India therefore start against the reigning champions and finish the group phase against co-hosts Zimbabwe.
India vs Australia – October 7
The main group stage begins with a blockbuster:
India vs Australia
Date: October 7, 2027
Venue: Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
The fixture is a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, which Australia won in Ahmedabad.
Australia enter 2027 as defending champions, while India will be aiming to reclaim the ODI World Cup trophy they last won in 2011.
The ICC specifically selected this fixture to open Group Stage action.
India vs Pakistan – October 10
One of the biggest sporting fixtures in world cricket will take place at:
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Date: October 10, 2027
The ICC confirmed Johannesburg as the venue for the highly anticipated India-Pakistan Group A match.
The Wanderers will therefore host two of the tournament’s biggest occasions: India vs Pakistan and the November 21 final.
India vs Afghanistan – October 14
India’s third Group A game is:
India vs Afghanistan
Date: October 14
Venue: Tshwane
Afghanistan have developed into a major ODI force and reached the semi-finals of the 2025 Champions Trophy era while continuing to challenge established cricket nations.
The fixture could therefore have major implications for Super 7 qualification.
India vs Qualifier A – October 17
India then travel to Bloemfontein to face one of the sides that earns its place through the qualification pathway.
Date: October 17
Venue: Bloemfontein
The identity of Qualifier A will only be known after the relevant qualifying competition is completed.
Zimbabwe vs India – October 24
India conclude the Group Stage against Zimbabwe at the new:
Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls
This will be the first Cricket World Cup match played at the Victoria Falls venue.
With one of the world’s most famous natural landmarks nearby, this promises to be one of the tournament’s most distinctive settings.
ICC World Cup 2027 Super 7 Schedule
The ICC has pre-seeded several teams into Super 7 slots to help supporters understand likely match locations.
The seed positions are:
A1 – India
A2 – Australia
A3 – Pakistan
AB4 – England
B1 – New Zealand
B2 – South Africa
B3 – Sri Lanka
These are fixture seeds, not guaranteed qualification positions. If one of these teams fails to qualify and another side replaces it, the replacement assumes that seed’s Super 7 fixture pathway.
| Date | Super 7 Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | A2 vs B3 | Johannesburg |
| Oct 26 | B1 vs A3 | Gqeberha |
| Oct 27 | B2 vs AB4 | Tshwane |
| Oct 28 | A1 vs A2 | Victoria Falls |
| Oct 29 | B1 vs B3 | KuGompo City |
| Oct 30 | A3 vs AB4 | Victoria Falls |
| Oct 31 | B2 vs A1 | Johannesburg |
| Nov 1 | A2 vs B1 | Victoria Falls |
| Nov 2 | B3 vs AB4 | Cape Town |
| Nov 3 | B2 vs A3 | Durban |
| Nov 4 | A1 vs B1 | Paarl |
| Nov 5 | A2 vs AB4 | Durban |
| Nov 6 | B2 vs B3 | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 7 | A1 vs A3 | Cape Town |
| Nov 8 | B1 vs AB4 | Durban |
| Nov 9 | B2 vs A2 | Gqeberha |
| Nov 10 | A3 vs B3 | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 11 | A1 vs AB4 | Gqeberha |
| Nov 12 | B2 vs B1 | Cape Town |
| Nov 13 | A2 vs A3 | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 14 | A1 vs B3 | Durban |
The Super 7 runs from October 25 through November 14.
Potential India Matches in Super 7
If India qualify and retain their A1 seeded position, their scheduled Super 7 pathway would be:
| Date | Potential Fixture | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | India vs Australia | Victoria Falls |
| Oct 31 | South Africa vs India | Johannesburg |
| Nov 4 | India vs New Zealand | Paarl |
| Nov 7 | India vs Pakistan | Cape Town |
| Nov 11 | India vs England | Gqeberha |
| Nov 14 | India vs Sri Lanka | Durban |
Again, these opponents are based on ICC’s pre-seeded fixture positions. Actual teams can change if one or more seeded sides fail to reach the Super 7.
That means India and Pakistan could meet twice during the competition—once in the Group Stage and potentially again in the Super 7.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Semi-Final Schedule
The top four Super 7 teams qualify for the knockout stage.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-Final 1 | November 17 | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Semi-Final 2 | November 18 | Tshwane |
| Final | November 21 | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
Both semi-finals have reserve days. The final also has a reserve day on November 22 if required.
The knockout matches are scheduled as day games beginning at 10:00 local time.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Final
The biggest match of the tournament takes place on:
November 21, 2027
at:
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
The Wanderers has already hosted one Men’s World Cup final.
In 2003, Australia defeated India there after Ricky Ponting scored an unbeaten 140. The stadium will therefore host the World Cup final again 24 years later.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Venues
A total of 12 venues across three countries will host the tournament.
South Africa – 8 venues
Wanderers Stadium – Johannesburg
Centurion – Tshwane
Newlands Cricket Ground – Cape Town
Kingsmead Cricket Ground – Durban
St George’s Park – Gqeberha
Mangaung Oval – Bloemfontein
Boland Park – Paarl
Buffalo Park – KuGompo City
Zimbabwe – 3 venues
Harare Sports Club – Harare
Queens Sports Club – Bulawayo
Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium – Victoria Falls
Namibia – 1 venue
Namibia Cricket Ground – Windhoek
The venue distribution gives South Africa the majority of matches while allowing Zimbabwe and Namibia to stage important World Cup fixtures as co-hosting nations.
Why Victoria Falls Is One of the Most Interesting Venues
The new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium at Victoria Falls could become one of the signature venues of the tournament.
It stages the Group Stage finale between Zimbabwe and India as well as several seeded Super 7 fixtures.
The Zimbabwe-India match will be the first-ever World Cup match at the venue.
Its location near Victoria Falls gives travelling supporters a rare opportunity to combine a major sporting event with one of Africa’s best-known natural attractions.
Who Has Qualified for the 2027 Cricket World Cup?
The automatic qualification pathway included the two full-member hosts:
South Africa
Zimbabwe
plus the top eight eligible sides based on the ICC Men’s ODI rankings at the September 30, 2026 cut-off.
The official groups confirm the directly placed teams as:
- India
- Australia
- Pakistan
- Afghanistan
- Zimbabwe
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- England
- Bangladesh
The final four tournament participants are decided by the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Interestingly, Namibia does not receive automatic entry simply because it is a co-host and must qualify through the relevant pathway.
How Does World Cup Qualification Work?
The Cricket World Cup Qualifier determines four remaining World Cup participants.
The Qualifier winner enters the Group Stage directly.
The teams finishing second, third and fourth qualify for the World Cup but must first contest the three-team Super Series in Windhoek. Only the winner of that Super Series advances into the Group Stage.
This explains why 14 teams are officially World Cup participants even though only 12 eventually contest the main group phase.
How Many Matches Are in the 2027 World Cup?
There are 57 matches in total:
| Stage | Matches |
|---|---|
| Super Series | 3 |
| Group Stage | 30 |
| Super 7 | 21 |
| Semi-Finals | 2 |
| Final | 1 |
| Total | 57 |
The expanded format gives more teams access to the tournament compared with the 10-team 2023 edition.
Australia Enter as Defending Champions
Australia won the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India, defeating the hosts in the Ahmedabad final.
That makes the opening India-Australia match in Cape Town on October 7 particularly significant: it immediately brings together the two finalists from the previous edition.
World Cup Returns to Africa After 24 Years
The last men’s ODI World Cup staged in Africa was in 2003.
The 2027 edition therefore represents the tournament’s return to the continent after 24 years.
South Africa and Zimbabwe both hosted games in 2003, while Namibia will make its debut as a senior Men’s World Cup host.
The tournament’s branding uses the theme:
“Three Nations, One Heartbeat”
alongside the broader concept of “Make the Circle Bigger.”
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Tickets
The ICC opened the ticket ballot on October 1, 2026, alongside the schedule announcement.
The ballot gives fans an opportunity to apply for tickets rather than immediately purchasing a guaranteed seat.
According to the ICC, entry-level ticket prices begin at approximately US$9.62, while higher-tier fixtures are listed up to about US$31.31 at the initial announced price levels. Family, student, pensioner and community options are also part of the ticket strategy.
Ticket availability and later sales phases can change, so fans should use official ICC channels when purchasing.
Biggest Matches to Watch at World Cup 2027
Several fixtures immediately stand out.
India vs Australia – October 7: a rematch of the 2023 final.
India vs Pakistan – October 10: one of world cricket’s biggest rivalries at the Wanderers.
South Africa vs New Zealand – October 9: an important opening game for the hosts.
South Africa vs England – October 16: two major ODI nations meeting in Gqeberha.
Australia vs Pakistan – October 22: potentially crucial for Group A qualification.
Zimbabwe vs India – October 24: first World Cup match at Victoria Falls.
The Super 7 can then produce several additional heavyweight matches depending on qualification.
FAQs About ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule
When will the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 start?
The tournament officially begins on October 2, 2027, with the first Super Series match in Windhoek.
When does the World Cup Group Stage start?
The Group Stage begins on October 7 with India vs Australia in Cape Town.
When is India vs Pakistan in World Cup 2027?
India and Pakistan will play on October 10, 2027 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
When is India vs Australia?
India face defending champions Australia on October 7 at Newlands in Cape Town.
How many teams will play in the 2027 Cricket World Cup?
A total of 14 teams participate in the tournament.
How many matches will be played?
There will be 57 matches across the Super Series, Group Stage, Super 7 and knockout rounds.
Where will the World Cup be held?
The competition is jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia across 12 venues.
When is the first semi-final?
Semi-Final 1 will be played on November 17 in Cape Town.
When is the second semi-final?
Semi-Final 2 will be played on November 18 in Tshwane.
When is the ICC World Cup 2027 final?
The final is scheduled for November 21, 2027 at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Who are the defending champions?
Australia are the defending Men’s ODI World Cup champions after winning the 2023 tournament.
Will India play at Victoria Falls?
Yes. India face Zimbabwe on October 24 at Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium, the first World Cup match held at the new Victoria Falls venue.
What is the Super 7?
It is a seven-team round-robin phase following the Group Stage. All seven teams start with zero points and each plays six games. The top four qualify for the semi-finals.
Final Words
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule sets up one of the largest editions of the ODI tournament yet.
The action begins in Windhoek on October 2, followed by the main Group Stage from October 7. India immediately face defending champions Australia in Cape Town before their huge encounter against Pakistan at the Wanderers on October 10.
The expanded 14-team format introduces a new pathway through the Super Series, two-group round robin and 21-match Super 7, creating substantially more high-stakes cricket before the knockout rounds.
Across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, 57 matches will eventually determine the four semi-finalists. Cape Town hosts the first semi-final on November 17, Tshwane the second on November 18, and Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium hosts the final on November 21.
With India vs Australia opening the Group Stage, India vs Pakistan in Johannesburg, a new World Cup venue at Victoria Falls and the tournament returning to Africa after 24 years, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is already shaping up as one of the most distinctive ODI World Cups in the competition’s history.
