The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup is heading back to Africa for the first time in 24 years, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia set to jointly host the 2027 edition.
From a brand-new tournament format to 12 venues across three countries, here’s everything you need to know about the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
When is the Cricket World Cup 2027?
The tournament will be held in October and November 2027.
The ICC has not yet announced the complete match schedule or dates for individual fixtures. However, reports suggest the tentative dates to be October 4 to November 21.
Which countries are hosting the Cricket World Cup 2027?
Three countries will jointly host the tournament:
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Namibia
It will be:
- South Africa’s second time hosting a Men’s ODI World Cup
- Zimbabwe’s second time hosting
- Namibia’s first time hosting a senior ICC global tournament
The World Cup returns to Africa for the first time since the 2003 edition, which was co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
How many teams will play?
The tournament expands from 10 teams in 2023 to 14 teams in 2027.
The additional teams are aimed at making the tournament more inclusive while giving Associate nations a greater opportunity to compete on the biggest stage.
New Cricket World Cup 2027 format explained
The ICC has introduced an entirely new three-stage competition.
Stage 1: Super Series
The tournament begins with the three lowest-ranked qualified teams.
- Three teams
- Round-robin format
- Each team plays the other two once
- Only the team finishing first progresses
This effectively reduces the main tournament to 12 teams.
Stage 2: Group Stage
The 12 remaining teams are divided into:
- Two groups of six
- Every team plays five matches
- Total matches: 30
Qualification for the next round:
- Top three teams from each group qualify automatically
- The best fourth-placed team across both groups also qualifies
That leaves seven teams progressing.
Stage 3: Super 7
Seven teams compete in another round-robin league.
- Total matches: 21
- Every team plays six matches
The top four teams qualify for the knockout stage.
Semi-finals
Final
The two semi-final winners contest the World Cup final.
Overall, the tournament will feature 57 matches.
Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 venues
South Africa (8)
- Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Centurion, Tshwane
- Newlands, Cape Town
- Kingsmead, Durban
- St George’s Park, Gqeberha
- Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
- Boland Park, Paarl
- Buffalo Park, KuGompo City (formerly East London)
Zimbabwe (3)
- Harare Sports Club
- Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo
- Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, Victoria Falls
Namibia (1)
- Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
What does the official Cricket World Cup 2027 theme mean?
The tournament has been launched under the slogan:
“Make the Circle Bigger”
It is built around the African philosophy of Ubuntu, meaning: “I am, because we are.”
The branding celebrates unity, diversity, hospitality and community across the three host nations.
Another campaign slogan unveiled is:
“Three Nations, One Heartbeat.”
The tournament logo is inspired by the traditional African woven bowl, symbolising inclusivity and welcoming people into a shared celebration.
Brand colours
The tournament identity includes colours inspired by Southern Africa, including:
- Zimbabwe Chilli
- African Root
- Fynbos Pop
- Namib Dune
- Harare Dawn
- Two Oceans
Who has qualified?
The final list of qualified teams has not yet been confirmed.
A total of 14 teams will participate through the ICC qualification pathway.
When will Cricket World Cup 2027 tickets go on sale?
The ICC has not announced ticket sale dates yet.
Fans can currently register their interest with the ICC to receive updates on:
- Ticket sales
- Match schedules
- Hospitality
- Travel information
- Tournament news
Why is this World Cup significant?
The 2027 edition marks several milestones:
- First ODI World Cup in Africa since 2003
- Namibia’s first senior ICC event as a host
- Expanded 14-team tournament
- New three-stage competition format
- Return of the World Cup to Southern Africa after nearly a quarter of a century
What ICC officials said
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the tournament as “an exciting milestone” and called its return to Africa “a landmark moment for cricket.”
ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said the World Cup would celebrate Africa’s “extraordinary people, vibrant cultures, breathtaking experiences and deep love for sport.”
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 at a glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 |
| Dates | October-November 2027 |
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches | 57 |
| Venues | 12 |
| South African venues | 8 |
| Zimbabwe venues | 3 |
| Namibia venues | 1 |
| Tournament slogan | Make the Circle Bigger |
| Regional theme | Three Nations, One Heartbeat |
| Philosophy | Ubuntu – “I am, because we are” |
| Format | Super Series → Group Stage → Super 7 → Semi-finals → Final |
The 2027 Cricket World Cup promises to be one of the biggest editions in the tournament’s history, combining an expanded field, a new competition structure and the return of cricket’s flagship ODI event to Africa after 24 years.
Story first published: Friday, July 31, 2026, 8:32 [IST]
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