ICC Cricket World Cup 2027: Schedule, Teams, Format, Venues & India Matches
The wait for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is officially underway. The 14th edition of cricket’s biggest ODI tournament will be hosted jointly by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, bringing the Cricket World Cup back to Africa for the first time since 2003.
The tournament will begin on 2 October 2027 and the final will be played on 21 November 2027. A total of 14 teams will compete across 12 venues, with 57 matches scheduled throughout the tournament.
The tournament promises several blockbuster encounters, including India vs Australia, India vs Pakistan, Australia vs Pakistan and South Africa vs New Zealand.
Table of Contents
Cricket World Cup 2027: Key Details
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 |
| Edition | 14th |
| Hosts | South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia |
| Start Date | 2 October 2027 |
| Group Stage | 7–24 October 2027 |
| Super 7 | 25 October–14 November 2027 |
| Semi-Finals | 17 & 18 November 2027 |
| Final | 21 November 2027 |
| Teams | 14 |
| Matches | 57 |
| Venues | 12 |
The tournament will use a new three-stage format, making CWC 2027 different from the 2023 World Cup.
Where Will the 2027 Cricket World Cup Be Played?
The World Cup will be jointly hosted by three African nations:
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
- Namibia
There will be eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia.
South Africa
The South African venues include:
- Johannesburg
- Cape Town
- Tshwane
- Durban
- Gqeberha
- Bloemfontein
- Paarl
- KuGompo City
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe will host matches in:
- Harare
- Bulawayo
- Victoria Falls
Namibia
Namibia will host matches at:
- Windhoek
The inclusion of Victoria Falls and Namibia’s participation as a host venue adds a unique dimension to the tournament.
Which Teams Are in Cricket World Cup 2027?
The tournament will feature 14 teams.
The current group-stage structure includes:
Group A
- India
- Australia
- Pakistan
- Afghanistan
- Zimbabwe
- Qualifier A
Group B
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- Sri Lanka
- England
- Bangladesh
- Qualifier B
The remaining qualification places will be determined through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier pathway.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Format
One of the biggest talking points around CWC 2027 is its new format.
The tournament will begin with a Super Series involving three of the lowest-ranked qualified teams. They will play a round-robin series, with the winner advancing to the main Group Stage.
Stage 1: Super Series
Three teams will compete in a three-match round-robin competition in Namibia.
The top team will qualify for the Group Stage.
Stage 2: Group Stage
The remaining 12 teams will be divided into two groups of six.
Each team will play the other teams in its group.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super 7 stage.
The best fourth-placed team across the two groups will also qualify.
Stage 3: Super 7
Seven teams will compete in a single round-robin stage.
Each team will play six matches.
Unlike a traditional league carry-over system, no points from the Group Stage will be carried into the Super 7 stage.
The top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.
Semi-Finals
The team finishing first will play the fourth-placed team.
The second-placed team will face the third-placed team.
Final
The two semi-final winners will meet in the final on 21 November 2027.
India at Cricket World Cup 2027
India will enter the tournament as one of the biggest favourites and will be placed in Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
India’s Group Stage fixtures include some enormous contests.
India vs Australia
Date: 7 October 2027
Venue: Cape Town
The tournament’s Group Stage begins with a blockbuster clash between India and defending champions Australia.
The match is particularly significant because Australia defeated India in the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.
India vs Pakistan
Date: 10 October 2027
Venue: Johannesburg
One of the most anticipated matches of the tournament will see India face Pakistan.
The India-Pakistan rivalry is expected to attract enormous global attention, with the match scheduled early in the Group Stage.
India’s Other Group Matches
India will also play:
- India vs Afghanistan — 14 October
- India vs Qualifier A — 17 October
- Zimbabwe vs India — 24 October
The final Group Stage match between Zimbabwe and India will be played at Victoria Falls.
Full Cricket World Cup 2027 Group Stage Schedule
Here are some of the major fixtures announced by the ICC:
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Oct | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
| 8 Oct | Pakistan vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| 8 Oct | England vs Bangladesh | Windhoek |
| 9 Oct | South Africa vs New Zealand | Cape Town |
| 10 Oct | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| 11 Oct | Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan | Bulawayo |
| 14 Oct | India vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| 15 Oct | Zimbabwe vs Australia | Harare |
| 19 Oct | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Harare |
| 22 Oct | Australia vs Pakistan | Paarl |
| 23 Oct | England vs New Zealand | Gqeberha |
| 24 Oct | Zimbabwe vs India | Victoria Falls |
The complete schedule contains 30 Group Stage matches before the tournament moves into the Super 7 phase.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Super 7 Schedule
The Super 7 stage begins on 25 October and continues until 14 November 2027.
Some of the biggest scheduled fixtures include:
- Australia vs Sri Lanka — 25 October
- New Zealand vs Pakistan — 26 October
- South Africa vs England — 27 October
- India vs Australia — 28 October
- South Africa vs India — 31 October
- South Africa vs Pakistan — 3 November
- India vs New Zealand — 4 November
- India vs Pakistan — 7 November
- India vs England — 11 November
- Australia vs Pakistan — 13 November
- India vs Sri Lanka — 14 November
The exact teams occupying certain seeded positions can change depending on the Group Stage results.
Cricket World Cup 2027 Semi-Finals and Final
The knockout stage will take place in South Africa.
Semi-Final 1
17 November 2027 — Cape Town
Semi-Final 2
18 November 2027 — Tshwane
Final
21 November 2027 — Johannesburg
The final will be played at the iconic Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
Who Are the Favourites for the 2027 World Cup?
Several teams could enter CWC 2027 as serious contenders.
India
India will be one of the strongest teams in the tournament thanks to its depth in batting, bowling and spin.
Playing conditions in South Africa could make fast bowling particularly important.
Australia
Australia enter the tournament as the 2023 World Cup champions and will have the experience of winning major ICC tournaments behind them.
South Africa
As one of the host nations, South Africa will have home conditions and strong knowledge of the venues.
The Proteas will be looking to turn home advantage into their first men’s ODI World Cup title.
New Zealand
New Zealand have consistently performed well in ODI World Cups and cannot be overlooked in a long tournament.
Pakistan and England
Both Pakistan and England have the talent to challenge the leading teams. Their performances in the Group Stage and Super 7 could be crucial.
Why CWC 2027 Could Be Special
The 2027 World Cup will be particularly significant because it marks the return of the men’s Cricket World Cup to Africa after 24 years.
The tournament will also give fans an opportunity to experience cricket in three different countries.
From the iconic grounds of South Africa to Zimbabwe’s historic cricket venues and Namibia’s Windhoek Cricket Ground, CWC 2027 will offer a unique mix of cricket and African sporting culture.
The expanded format will also create more opportunities for teams to compete on the biggest stage.
Final Thoughts
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 promises to be one of the most exciting editions of the tournament.
With 14 teams, 57 matches, 12 venues and three host nations, fans can expect a packed schedule of ODI cricket from October to November 2027.
For Indian cricket fans, the biggest attractions will undoubtedly include India vs Australia on 7 October and India vs Pakistan on 10 October.
With Australia defending their title and India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan and England among the major contenders, the race for the World Cup trophy could be extremely competitive.
As the tournament approaches, CricGyaan will bring you the latest CWC 2027 schedule, squad announcements, match previews, player statistics, points tables, predictions and live updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the Cricket World Cup 2027 start?
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will begin on 2 October 2027 with the Super Series in Windhoek.
When is the Cricket World Cup 2027 final?
The final is scheduled for 21 November 2027 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.
Where will the 2027 Cricket World Cup be held?
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
How many teams will play in the 2027 World Cup?
A total of 14 teams will participate.
When is India vs Pakistan in the 2027 World Cup?
India and Pakistan are scheduled to play their Group Stage match on 10 October 2027 in Johannesburg.
Who won the previous Cricket World Cup?
Australia won the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, defeating India in the final.
How many matches will be played in CWC 2027?
The tournament will feature 57 matches across 12 venues.
What is the format of the 2027 Cricket World Cup?
The tournament will use a three-stage structure: Super Series → Group Stage → Super 7 → Semi-Finals → Final.