The wait for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 has officially begun to feel real. The International Cricket Council has announced the complete fixture schedule for the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The 14-team tournament will begin on October 2, 2027, with the final scheduled for November 21 in Johannesburg. The tournament will also introduce a new format, with the group stage followed by a Super 7 phase before the semi-finals and final.
For Indian cricket fans, there is plenty to look forward to. India will open its campaign against Australia in Cape Town on October 7, while the much-awaited India vs Pakistan clash is scheduled for October 10 in Johannesburg.
ICC World Cup 2027 Groups Announced
The #CWC27 groups are locked ⚡🔐
A cricketing extravaganza awaits! How to watch the schedule launch ➡️ https://t.co/Eod5GoN7zW pic.twitter.com/oVg7zVHLNF
— ICC (@ICC) October 1, 2026
The 12 teams that are already confirmed for the tournament have been divided into two groups of six. India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe are in Group A, alongside Qualifier A. Group B features New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh, along with Qualifier B. The final two group-stage places will be determined through the qualification process.
South Africa and Zimbabwe have qualified directly as co-hosts. Eight other teams qualified through their position in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the September 30, 2026 cut-off. The remaining four spots will be decided through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
World Cup Begins With Super Series
Full schedule of World Cup 2027#WorldCup2027 #WorldCup #CWC #CWC27 pic.twitter.com/yuO2o0lFkq
— Entertales (@Entertales) October 1, 2026
The first action of the 2027 World Cup will take place in Windhoek, Namibia. Three teams will compete in the Super Series on October 2, 4 and 6. The team finishing at the top will secure the final group-stage place.
This means the tournament will officially get underway before the main group stage begins on October 7. The three Super Series matches will be played at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
The main group-stage action will begin in Cape Town with a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final. India will take on defending champions Australia on October 7. South Africa will begin its campaign against New Zealand on October 9, also in Cape Town. Zimbabwe will play its opening match against Qualifier A on the same day in Bulawayo.
India vs Pakistan On October 10
One of the biggest fixtures of the group stage will see India face Pakistan on October 10, 2027, in Johannesburg. India will then face Afghanistan on October 14 in Tshwane before taking on Qualifier A in Bloemfontein on October 17. Its final group-stage match will be against Zimbabwe on October 24 at Victoria Falls.
The India-Zimbabwe match will also be the first World Cup fixture at the new ground in Victoria Falls. India’s other Group A opponents include Australia and Pakistan, meaning the opening phase will feature several high-profile contests.
New Super 7 Format For World Cup 2027
The 2027 World Cup will feature a new format after the group stage. The top three teams from each group will qualify for the Super 7 phase. The remaining place will go to the fourth-placed team with more points than the fourth-placed team from the other group. Seven teams will therefore continue into the next phase.
Unlike a traditional Super League-style system, the teams will enter the Super 7 phase without carrying their group-stage points forward. Each qualified team will play six matches between October 25 and November 14.
The ICC has also pre-seeded several teams into Super 7 positions. India is designated A1, Australia A2, Pakistan A3, England AB4, New Zealand B1, South Africa B2 and Sri Lanka B3.
The seeding is designed to provide greater certainty around the potential fixture schedule while maintaining the qualification process. If another team qualifies in place of a pre-seeded side, it will take that team’s designated position.
When Are The World Cup Semi-Finals And Final?
After the Super 7 phase, the top four teams will progress to the semi-finals. The team finishing first will play the fourth-placed side, while the second-placed team will face the third-placed team.
The first semi-final is scheduled for November 17 in Cape Town, while the second semi-final will take place on November 18 in Tshwane. Both semi-finals will have reserve days. The World Cup final will be played at Johannesburg on November 21, 2027. A reserve day has been kept on November 22 if required.
12 Venues To Host World Cup Matches
The tournament will be played across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Namibia’s Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host the three Super Series matches along with three group-stage fixtures. Zimbabwe will host matches in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.
In South Africa, matches will be played across Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City and Gqeberha. The inclusion of Victoria Falls is particularly notable, as India and Zimbabwe will play the first World Cup match at the new venue on October 24.
ICC Opens World Cup Ticket Ballot
Along with announcing the schedule, the ICC has opened its ticket ballot for fans. According to the ICC, ticket prices will range from USD $9.62 (R158) for entry-level tickets to USD $31.31 (R514) for the highest-tier matches. Family bundles, student and pensioner pricing, early-bird local allocations and community group options will also be available.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the schedule announcement and opening of the ticket ballot were major milestones ahead of the tournament.
“The announcement of the schedule and opening of the ticket ballot are major milestones on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations.”
He added, “South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will provide an unforgettable stage for the world’s best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome. We look forward to welcoming fans from across the world and creating memories that will last long beyond the final.”
World Cup 2027 Schedule Is Now Official
With the fixtures announced, teams and fans now have a clear picture of the road to the 2027 World Cup final. India will begin against Australia before facing Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qualifier A and Zimbabwe in the group stage. The tournament will then move into the new Super 7 phase, followed by the semi-finals and final.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will begin on October 2, with the main group stage starting on October 7. After nearly seven weeks of cricket across three countries, the new world champion will be crowned in Johannesburg on November 21, 2027.
Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | X |
Youtube | Pinterest | Google News |
Entertales is on YouTube; click here to subscribe for the latest videos and updates.