How the tournament works
The tournament is played in five stages. It opens with a Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia (2–6 October, 3 matches), featuring the three lowest-ranked qualified teams. The group stage (7–24 October, 30 matches) follows in two groups of six. The top teams then carry into the Super 7 (25 October–14 November, 21 matches), a seven-team round robin. The top four of the Super 7 reach the semi-finals on 17 and 18 November, and the two winners meet in the final on Sunday 21 November at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, with Monday 22 November as the reserve day. The final four places in the tournament are decided at the World Cup Qualifier in February–March 2027. All match start times are local South African time (SAST, UTC+2): 10:00 for day matches, 12:30 for day/night matches.
Key dates
| Date | What happens | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 2 Oct 2027 | Super Series opens — first ball of the tournament | Windhoek, Namibia |
| Thu 7 Oct 2027 | India v Australia — group stage opener | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Fri 8 Oct 2027 | Pakistan v Afghanistan; South Africa v New Zealand | Centurion; Cape Town |
| Sun 10 Oct 2027 | India v Pakistan | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| Sun 24 Oct 2027 | Zimbabwe v India | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe |
| Sun 7 Nov 2027 | India v Pakistan — Super 7, if both qualify | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Wed 17 Nov 2027 | Semi-final 1 — Super 7 1st v 4th | Newlands, Cape Town |
| Thu 18 Nov 2027 | Semi-final 2 — Super 7 2nd v 3rd | SuperSport Park, Centurion |
| Sun 21 Nov 2027 | Final (reserve day Mon 22 Nov) | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
All 12 venues
| City | Stadium | Country | Capacity | Matches |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | Wanderers Stadium | South Africa | ~34,000 | 6 (incl. final) |
| Cape Town | Newlands | South Africa | ~25,000 | 6 (incl. semi-final 1) |
| Durban | Kingsmead | South Africa | ~25,000 | 6 |
| Centurion (Tshwane) | SuperSport Park | South Africa | ~22,000 | 5 (incl. semi-final 2) |
| Bloemfontein | Mangaung Oval | South Africa | ~20,000 | 5 |
| Gqeberha | St George's Park | South Africa | ~19,000 | 5 |
| KuGompo City (East London) | Buffalo Park | South Africa | ~16,000 | 4 |
| Paarl | Boland Park | South Africa | ~10,000 | 4 |
| Harare | Harare Sports Club | Zimbabwe | ~10,000 | 4 |
| Victoria Falls | Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium | Zimbabwe | ~10,000 | 4 |
| Bulawayo | Queens Sports Club | Zimbabwe | ~12,500 | 2 |
| Windhoek | Namibia Cricket Ground | Namibia | ~7,000 | 6 (incl. Super Series) |
South Africa stages eight of the venues, Zimbabwe three, and Namibia one. The most eye-catching ground is the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium at Victoria Falls, where Zimbabwe host India on 24 October — the first World Cup matches ever played at the Falls. Newlands in Cape Town, with Table Mountain behind it, hosts the tournament opener (India v Australia, 7 October) and the first semi-final.
The two groups
Group A: Afghanistan, Australia, India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and one qualifier (Qualifier A). India are pre-seeded A1, Australia A2 and Pakistan A3. Group B: Bangladesh, England, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka and one qualifier (Qualifier B). New Zealand are pre-seeded B1, South Africa B2 and Sri Lanka B3. The Super 7 seeds carry the same labels — so a Pakistan vs India Super 7 meeting on 7 November would be A3 vs A1 at Newlands.
Tickets
Tickets for the 2027 World Cup are sold through the ICC's official ticket ballot, which opened on 1 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026. There is no general public sale, and this guide links no ticket sellers — if you want to attend, the ballot is the only official route, and it closes a full year before the final.
Planning a trip around the schedule
If you are travelling from Pakistan, start with our Cricket World Cup 2027 Guide for Pakistani Fans — Pakistan's fixtures, flights, visas and halal food — and our India vs Pakistan Johannesburg Travel Guide for the 10 October match itself. For the money side, run your rand total through our currency converter and count down to the first ball with the days-between-dates calculator.
❓ Cricket World Cup 2027 Schedule FAQs
When is the Cricket World Cup 2027?
From Friday 2 October to Sunday 21 November 2027, in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The final is on Sunday 21 November at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, with a reserve day on Monday 22 November.
How many teams and matches are in the 2027 World Cup?
14 teams play 57 matches across 12 venues: a 3-match Super Series, 30 group matches, 21 Super 7 matches, two semi-finals and the final.
Where is the 2027 Cricket World Cup final?
Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, on Sunday 21 November 2027, with a reserve day on Monday 22 November. Wanderers also hosts India vs Pakistan on 10 October.
When is India vs Pakistan at the 2027 World Cup?
Sunday 10 October 2027 at Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, in the group stage. If both teams reach the Super 7, they meet again on Sunday 7 November at Newlands, Cape Town.
Which cities host 2027 World Cup matches?
Eight venues in South Africa (Johannesburg, Tshwane/Centurion, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City), three in Zimbabwe (Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls) and one in Namibia (Windhoek).
What is the Super Series at the 2027 World Cup?
The tournament opens with a Super Series in Windhoek, Namibia, from 2 to 6 October 2027 — three matches featuring the three lowest-ranked qualified teams — before the group stage begins on 7 October.
When are the 2027 World Cup semi-finals?
The first semi-final is on Wednesday 17 November 2027 at Newlands, Cape Town, and the second on Thursday 18 November at SuperSport Park, Centurion. The winners meet in the final on 21 November in Johannesburg.
How do tickets for the 2027 World Cup work?
Tickets are sold through the ICC's official ticket ballot, which opened on 1 October 2026 and closes at 23:59 SAST on 21 November 2026. There is no general public sale. This guide links no ticket sellers.
More Cricket World Cup 2027 guides: India vs Pakistan Johannesburg Travel Guide · Cricket World Cup 2027 Guide for Pakistani Fans
Sources
- ICC — "ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule revealed and ballot system opens", 1 October 2026: icc-cricket.com
- ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule reference (fixtures cross-checked with Wikipedia), compiled 27 October 2026: talent-hunt.net