Cricket World Cup 2027: The Complete Fan Guide

The Men’s Cricket World Cup returns to Africa in 2027 for the first time since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya shared hosting duties. This time South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will stage the tournament across seven weeks of one-day international cricket, from the dry-season heat of the Highveld to the Atlantic breezes of Cape Town.

This page is our starting point for everything. It gives you the essentials in one place and points you towards the more detailed guides on this site. We are an independent fan resource with no connection to the tournament organisers or any ticketing agent, so always confirm important details with official sources before you book or buy anything.

The tournament at a glance

Detail	What we know
Dates	2 October to 21 November 2027
Hosts	South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia
Teams	14
Matches	57
Venues	12 (eight in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe, one in Namibia)
Final	21 November 2027, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Defending champions	Australia (won the 2023 edition, beating India in the final)
Time zone	All three host countries are on UTC+2 (Central Africa Time / South African Standard Time)

Day matches are scheduled to start at 10:00 local time, and day/night matches at 12:30 local time. Because all three hosts share the same time zone, there is no clock confusion when you cross a border mid-tournament.

Who is playing

Fourteen teams will take part. Ten places are already settled.

Already qualified

• South Africa and Zimbabwe, automatically as hosts
• Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, through the ODI rankings

Still to be decided

The final four places will be settled at a qualifying tournament in Namibia and South Africa in February and March 2027. Namibia, the third co-host, is an Associate member and does not receive an automatic place, so it must come through that qualifier like everyone else. Home fans in Windhoek will be watching closely.

You can browse every confirmed side, with background on their World Cup records, on our teams hub. Popular team pages include India, Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and England.

How the format works

The 2027 format, as published, has four distinct phases. It is a little different from recent editions, so it is worth understanding before you plan which matches to attend.

1. Super Series (2, 4 and 6 October, Windhoek) – three qualifier teams play a short round-robin. The winner earns a place in the group stage.
2. Group stage – two groups of six, playing 30 matches in total. One other qualifier goes straight into the groups without needing the Super Series.
3. Super 7 – the top three from each group plus the best fourth-placed side meet in a single round-robin of 21 matches.
4. Knockouts – the top four from the Super 7 contest the semi-finals (17 November at Newlands, 18 November at SuperSport Park), with the final at the Wanderers on 21 November.

The groups, as published, are:

Group A	Group B
Afghanistan	Bangladesh
Australia	England
India	New Zealand
Pakistan	South Africa
Zimbabwe	Sri Lanka
Qualifier A	Qualifier B

For a full walk-through, including how the best fourth-placed team might be decided and why it matters for ticket planning, read CWC 2027 Format Explained.

Key matches to circle

A few fixtures already stand out on the schedule.

• India v Australia, 7 October, Newlands, Cape Town – the opening match of the main event and a rematch of the 2023 final.
• South Africa v New Zealand, 9 October, Newlands – the hosts’ first outing, under lights in Cape Town.
• India v Pakistan, 10 October, Wanderers, Johannesburg – almost certainly the most sought-after ticket of the group stage. See our dedicated India v Pakistan preview.
• Semi-finals, 17 and 18 November – Newlands and SuperSport Park, Centurion.
• The final, 21 November, Wanderers – Johannesburg’s famous bowl hosts the climax.

The full list of fixtures, with local start times, lives on our matches page.

The venues

Twelve grounds will host matches. South Africa provides the majority, with Zimbabwe and Namibia adding character and some spectacular scenery, including a brand-new stadium near Victoria Falls.

• South Africa: Newlands (Cape Town), Wanderers (Johannesburg), SuperSport Park (Centurion), Kingsmead (Durban), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl), Buffalo Park (KuGompo City, formerly East London)
• Zimbabwe: Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo), Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls)
• Namibia: Namibia Cricket Ground (Windhoek)

Our host cities guide includes a table showing how many matches each ground stages, and every stadium has its own page in the venues section.

Tickets: the short version

Tickets are being allocated through a ballot on the official ticketing website, tickets.cricketworldcup.com. That is the only place we recommend buying from. This site does not sell tickets and never will.

The key points:

• Registration is free, and you do not pay anything to enter the ballot.
• You can apply for as many matches as you like, but only once per person per match.
• It is not first come, first served. Where demand exceeds supply, tickets are allocated at random.
• The ballot closes at 23:59 Central Africa Time on 21 November 2026, exactly a year before the final.
• Results are sent by email, and successful applicants receive instructions on how to pay.

Demand is enormous. Organisers reported more than 15 million ticket applications and over 4.4 million ballot registrations from 142 countries within roughly two weeks of the ballot opening. Read our ticket ballot explainer for strategy tips and scam warnings, or visit the tickets hub.

Travel basics

Getting around

Distances in southern Africa are large. Johannesburg to Cape Town is roughly a two-hour flight, and many fans following a team will combine domestic flights with car hire. If your team’s schedule takes you into Zimbabwe or Namibia, check flight connections early, as capacity on regional routes can be limited.

Visas and entry

Each host country sets its own entry rules. Some nationalities can visit South Africa without a visa for short stays, while others typically need to apply in advance. Crossing into Zimbabwe or Namibia may involve separate requirements. Our visa guide explains what to check and where to find official information.

Weather

October and November fall in the southern hemisphere spring and early summer. Expect warm, often hot days inland, with the chance of afternoon thunderstorms on the Highveld. Cape Town can be breezy and cooler in the evenings. Pack sun protection and a light layer.

Money and safety

The South African rand, Zimbabwean currency arrangements and the Namibian dollar all differ, so research payment options before travelling. As with any major event, use registered transport, keep valuables out of sight, and follow local advice.

Staying up to date

Schedules, qualifier outcomes and ticket phases will change over the coming year. We track confirmed developments on our updates page and refresh our guides when official information changes. Bookmark this page as your hub for the tournament, and always double-check critical details such as match times and entry requirements with official sources before you travel.