The International Cricket Council has officially released the schedule for the 2027 ODI World Cup, setting the stage for a return to African soil for the first time in 24 years. The tournament, which will feature 14 teams competing across 57 matches, is scheduled to commence on October 2, 2027, and will conclude with the final in Johannesburg on November 21.
India’s campaign is set to begin with a high-profile encounter against Australia on October 7 at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. The tournament will be hosted across 12 venues spanning South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, marking a significant multi-nation effort to bring the 50-over showcase back to the continent.
Group Stages and Key Fixtures
The tournament structure places India and Pakistan together in Group A, alongside Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and one of the qualifying teams. The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan is scheduled for October 10 in Johannesburg. Group B features South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and a second qualifier.
While Namibia is serving as a co-host, they are not an ICC full member and must navigate the qualification route to secure their place in the final 14-team field. Currently, 10 nations have already qualified based on their ICC ODI rankings, including India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh, while South Africa and Zimbabwe have earned automatic berths as hosts. The remaining four spots will be determined through a qualification tournament early next year.
Tournament Infrastructure and Venues
The 2027 edition will utilize a diverse range of historic and modern cricket grounds. South African venues include the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Centurion in Tshwane, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban, St George's Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl, and Buffalo Park in East London. Matches in Zimbabwe will be held at the Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, and the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. The Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will also host matches throughout the tournament.
Following the conclusion of the group stages, the tournament will move into the knockout phase. The semi-finals are scheduled for November 17 in Cape Town and November 18 in Tshwane, leading up to the championship decider at the Wanderers Stadium on November 21.
