The International Cricket Council has confirmed the schedule for the Men’s ODI World Cup 2027. The tournament will run from October 4 to November 21. The announcement matters because it sets the global cricket calendar and impacts teams, fans, and broadcasters worldwide.
The event will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. South Africa is expected to host the majority of matches across eight venues. At least 41 of the 54 fixtures will be played in the country. Zimbabwe will stage between eight and ten matches, while Namibia will host three games.
The tournament marks the return of the ODI World Cup to Africa for the first time since 2003. It will feature 14 teams competing in a revised format. Teams will be divided into two groups of seven. The top three teams from each group will advance to the Super Six stage.
Zimbabwe will use three venues, including Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. A new stadium in Victoria Falls is expected to be completed ahead of the tournament. Namibia’s matches will take place at designated international-standard venues. South Africa remains the primary host due to infrastructure capacity.
The ICC Board had provisionally approved the dates earlier this year in Ahmedabad. Final confirmation is expected at the ICC Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh. The tournament will also open the 2027–2031 Future Tours Programme cycle. Discussions continue over future global cricket structures and formats.