The schedule window for the flagship 50-over ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be held on the African continent, has been revealed. According to ESPN Cricinfo, the tournament is set to run from October 4 to November 21 across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically as hosts, while Namibia, an Associate nation, will have to secure its place through the qualification pathway.
The tournament returns to a 14-team format after featuring only 10 teams in the previous two editions (2019 and 2023), allowing greater participation and competitiveness. The 14th edition will see 14 teams battle for ultimate glory.
Teams will be divided into two groups of seven. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage before the knockout rounds.
South Africa will host the majority of the matches, including the final.
Qualification Pathway for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027
Host Nations
South Africa and Zimbabwe have already secured their places in the marquee event as host nations.
Top Eight Teams in the ICC ODI Rankings
In addition to South Africa and Zimbabwe, the top eight teams in the ICC ODI Rankings as of March 31, 2027, will automatically qualify for the tournament.
The Full Member teams outside the top eight will feature in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, a 10-team tournament that will determine the remaining four World Cup spots.
ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier is a 10-team tournament scheduled to take place a few months before the World Cup.
The competition will feature:
- The two Full Member teams outside the top eight in the ICC ODI Rankings
- The top four teams from ICC Cricket World Cup League 2
- The top four teams from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off
The top four teams from the tournament will qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027, completing the 14-team lineup for the global event.
ICC Cricket World Cup League 2
The ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 serves as a qualification pathway for Associate nations aiming to reach the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027. The eight-team competition began in February 2024 and will continue until 2027.
The teams participating in the current cycle are:
- USA
- Scotland
- Oman
- Netherlands
- Nepal
- Canada
- Namibia
- UAE
Teams compete in a series of tri-nation tournaments throughout the three-year cycle, playing both home and away fixtures. Points are awarded for every match.
The top four teams at the end of the competition will advance directly to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, while the bottom four teams will receive another opportunity through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.
Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off
The Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off is contested by the bottom four teams from ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 and the top four teams from the Cricket World Cup Challenge League.
The top four teams from this competition will qualify for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Cricket World Cup Challenge League
The Cricket World Cup Challenge League features 12 teams divided into two groups of six. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off.
Jersey and Kuwait have qualified from Group A, while Uganda and Italy have secured qualification from Group B for the upcoming Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off, which is scheduled to take place next year.
Likely Venues for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2027
As one of the major cricketing powers on the African continent, South Africa is expected to host the majority of the matches, likely around 41. The probable venues in the country are:
- SuperSport Park, Centurion
- Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
- Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
- St George’s Park, Gqeberha
- Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
- Boland Park, Paarl
- Kingsmead, Durban
- Buffalo Park, East London
Zimbabwe already has two established international venues—Harare Sports Club in Harare and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo—which are expected to host matches. They could be joined by the under-construction Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium near Victoria Falls.
The Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek is likely to be the sole venue in Namibia to host matches during the tournament.