The 2027 men’s ODI World Cup, to be shared across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, has been provisionally scheduled to run from 4 October to 21 November that year.
The dates were agreed in principle at the ICC board meeting in Ahmedabad in May. Finer logistical details are expected to be confirmed at the governing body’s AGM in Edinburgh in July.
South Africa is likely to stage the majority of fixtures. Of the 54 matches in the tournament, at least 41 are expected to be played across eight South African venues. Zimbabwe is set to host between eight and ten games, while Namibia could hold three.
Zimbabwe’s hosting footprint has expanded to three grounds rather than the two originally planned. Victoria Falls will join Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo. The Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium is due for completion later this year, with domestic cricket planned before an official inauguration in May. South Africa had been in discussions about visiting Zimbabwe in August to help launch the ground as an international venue, but that plan has been deferred.
The 2027 edition will be the first men’s 50-over World Cup in Africa since 2003. South Africa has hosted other ICC events since then, including the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2009 Champions Trophy, and the 2023 Women’s T20 World Cup. Zimbabwe and Namibia jointly staged the men’s Under-19 World Cup more recently.
The tournament returns to a 14-team format after the past two editions featured ten sides. Teams will be split into two groups of seven, with the top three from each pool advancing to a Super Six phase. As Full Members, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically. Namibia must come through the qualification pathway.
The World Cup will also open the 2027–2031 Future Tours Programme, which sets out bilateral international schedules. The FTP is expected to be finalised at ICC meetings in Hong Kong later this year. Early talks have begun, though negotiators are still working through key issues around the World Test Championship, including whether all 12 Full Members should be included. Zimbabwe, Ireland, and Afghanistan are currently outside the WTC.
Another open question is whether standalone Test matches could count toward the WTC calendar. A decision on those points may be taken at the July AGM, after which the full FTP structure is likely to be completed.
For the three host nations, the provisional window gives boards, broadcasters, and fans a clear target as venue upgrades, qualification pathways, and the wider international calendar are finalised over the coming months.