Summary
- The event will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with formal approval expected at the ICC Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh next month.
- This edition will be especially symbolic, as it will be the first men’s ODI World Cup in Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya last co-hosted the global event.
- As full members, South Africa and Zimbabwe are expected to qualify automatically, while Namibia will have to secure its place through the qualification pathway.
The International Cricket Council (International Cricket Council) is preparing for the return of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027, with tentative dates now revealed for what is expected to be one of the most significant tournaments in modern cricket history.
According to reports, the 50-over World Cup is provisionally scheduled to run from October 4 to November 21, 2027, marking a historic return of the tournament to African soil after nearly 24 years. The event will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with formal approval expected at the ICC Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh next month.
South Africa is set to take on the majority of hosting duties, with Cricket South Africa likely staging around 41 of the 54 total matches across eight venues. Zimbabwe will host between eight and ten matches, while Namibia is expected to stage three games during the tournament.
This edition will be especially symbolic, as it will be the first men’s ODI World Cup in Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya last co-hosted the global event.
Zimbabwe’s role is also expected to expand, with a third venue likely to be added alongside Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. A new stadium, the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, is nearing completion and could feature in the tournament schedule after hosting domestic cricket earlier in 2027.
The tournament format will also see a major shift, returning to a 14-team structure, compared to the 10-team format used in the previous two editions. Teams will be split into two groups of seven, with the top three from each group advancing to the Super Six stage, promising a longer and more competitive pathway to the final.
As full members, South Africa and Zimbabwe are expected to qualify automatically, while Namibia will have to secure its place through the qualification pathway.
Beyond the action on the field, the 2027 World Cup will also mark the opening event of the ICC’s 2027–2031 Future Tours Programme, shaping the international cricket calendar for years ahead. With new venues, expanded participation, and a return to Africa, anticipation is already building for a landmark edition of the tournament.
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