CAPE TOWN — The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially launched the countdown to the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup on Thursday, October 1, 2026, unveiling the tournament schedule and opening the ticket ballot for fans worldwide.
Jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia under the banner “Three Nations, One Heartbeat”, the 14-team flagship One Day International (ODI) event will feature 57 matches across 12 venues from 2 October to 21 November 2027.
The tournament schedule was launched at a ceremony held at Cape Town’s Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), marking exactly one year until the action gets under way.
The main tournament (Men’s Cricket World Cup) begins with a marquee opening weekend, headlined by a clash between defending champions Australia and 2023 finalists India at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on Thursday, 7 October.
Host nations and traditional rivalries take centre stage immediately after:
- 8 October: Afghanistan faces Pakistan in Centurion, while England takes on Bangladesh in Windhoek.
- 9 October: Co-hosts Zimbabwe mark their return to the World Cup after a 12-year absence, taking on Qualifier-A in Bulawayo. South Africa begin their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town.
- 10 October: Arch-rivals India and Pakistan renew their rivalry at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium, while Sri Lanka open against Qualifier-B in Windhoek.
- Special Venue: Zimbabwe will also host India at the newly constructed Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium near Victoria Falls in Match 33.
Men’s Cricket World Cup, Tournament Structure & Format
The 2027 tournament sees the return of a 14-team format divided into three main stages prior to the knockouts:
- Round 1 (Super Series): The three lowest-ranked qualified teams (from the CWC Qualifier tournament) will play a single round-robin in Namibia. The group leader advances to the main draw.
- Round 2 (Group Stage): Twelve teams will be split into two groups of six. Group A features India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Qualifier A. Group B comprises New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and Qualifier B. The top three teams in each group, alongside the best fourth-placed team across both groups, advance.
- Round 3 (Super 7s): Seven teams compete in a full round-robin (21 matches). Pre-seeding has been assigned to top nations (including India as A1, Australia as A2, and England as AB4) to assist travelling supporters with venue planning.
The top four teams from the Super 7s stage will progress to the semi-finals, scheduled for Cape Town (17 November) and Centurion (18 November). Johannesburg will host the final on Sunday, 21 November 2027.
Venues
Matches will be staged across 12 grounds in southern Africa:
- South Africa (8 venues): Johannesburg, Tshwane (Pretoria), Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), Bloemfontein, Paarl, and KuGompo City (East London).
- Zimbabwe (3 venues): Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls.
- Namibia (1 venue): Windhoek (marking Namibia’s debut as a senior Men’s World Cup host).
Ticket Ballot Details
To make the event accessible, the ICC has opened a global, free-to-enter ticket ballot system. Entry-level tickets start from approximately USD $9.50 (R158), while top-tier fixture tickets are capped at around USD $30 (R514), alongside discounted allocations for families, students, pensioners, and local community clubs.
- Registration: Supporters can enter one ballot per person, per match, across multiple fixtures.
- Process: Allocations for high-demand matches will be determined via a randomised computer ballot rather than a first-come, first-served basis. No payment is taken upon registration.
- Deadline: The ballot window closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026, with successful applicants notified via email shortly afterwards.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the schedule launch and ticket ballot opening as major milestones:
“The ICC remains committed to making its World Cup events accessible to as many fans as possible, with affordable ticket prices and options that bring families, young people, and local communities closer to the action. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world’s best teams.”
Trevor Manuel, independent chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, added that southern Africa is ready to showcase its hospitality:
“Southern Africa has a proud tradition of hosting major global sporting events… We hope supporters will arrive in their multitudes for the cricket and leave with lasting memories of the warmth, energy, diversity, and extraordinary welcome of our region.”
Note: For cricket enthusiasts across Asia, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, the Men’s Cricket World Cup promises an unforgettable festival of sport. Business Cafe will be following every milestone on and off the field, providing fans with comprehensive match reviews, schedule breakdowns and live tournament updates throughout the competition.