The ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup is set to return to the African continent in 2027, marking the tournament’s first appearance in the region in 24 years. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that the prestigious event will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, with matches scheduled across 12 venues.
Of the 12 venues selected for the tournament, South Africa will host matches at eight stadiums, Zimbabwe will stage games at three venues, while Namibia will make history by hosting World Cup matches at one venue.
South Africa’s host venues include the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Centurion in Tshwane, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl, and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City, formerly known as East London.
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Zimbabwe’s matches will be played at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, and the newly built Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Meanwhile, Namibia will host its World Cup fixtures at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek, marking a historic milestone for cricket in the country.
The last time the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup was hosted in Africa was in 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya jointly staged the eighth edition of the tournament. The return of the World Cup to Africa after more than two decades is being viewed as a significant moment for the growth and global reach of the sport.
Welcoming the announcement, ICC Chairman Jay Shah said the tournament’s return to Africa represents a landmark occasion for international cricket.
“The return of this prestigious tournament to Africa after 24 years is a landmark moment for cricket. We are confident that South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will deliver an unforgettable event, showcasing the warmth, passion and rich diversity that make this region truly unique,” he said in an official ICC statement.
The 2027 edition of the ODI World Cup will feature a total of 57 matches under a revamped competition format designed to increase competitiveness throughout the tournament.
The event will begin with a Super Series, where the teams ranked 12th to 14th will compete in a round-robin format. The winner of that stage will qualify for the main tournament.
The main competition will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six. Each team will play every other side in its group in a round-robin league, resulting in a total of 30 matches during this phase.
The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-ranked team across both groups, will progress to the Super 7 stage. In this round, the seven qualifying teams will compete in another round-robin phase comprising 21 matches.
At the end of the Super 7 stage, the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals. The team finishing first in the standings will face the fourth-placed team, while the second and third-placed teams will meet in the other semi-final. The winners will then advance to the final to battle for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup title.
With world-class venues, passionate cricket fans, and three host nations coming together, the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI Cricket World Cup is expected to be one of the most memorable editions of the tournament and a major celebration of cricket across the African continent.
