The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will begin on October 2, 2027, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia set to host a 14-team tournament featuring 57 matches across 12 venues.

The schedule was unveiled in Cape Town on October 2, 2026, marking the one-year countdown to the tournament and opening the ticket ballot for fans. The competition will run through November 21, when the final will be played in Johannesburg.

Defending champions Australia and 2023 finalists India will headline the opening weekend when they meet at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on October 7. New Zealand will face hosts South Africa in Tshwane on October 8, while India and Pakistan will renew their rivalry at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on October 10.

The opening round will also see Afghanistan play Pakistan in Centurion on October 8, while England take on Bangladesh in Windhoek. Zimbabwe will return to the men's World Cup after a 12-year absence when they face Qualifier-A at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo on October 9. South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town on the same day.

Zimbabwe will later host India at the Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls in Match 33, taking the tournament to one of the country's most prominent tourist destinations.

The competition will start with a Super Series in Namibia involving the three lowest-ranked of the 14 qualified teams. They will play a round-robin competition, with the winner advancing to the Group Stage.

The 12-team Group Stage will then be divided into two groups of six. Group A will comprise India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A, while Group B will feature New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.

Each group will play a single round robin. The top three teams from each group, along with the highest-ranked fourth-placed team across the two groups, will advance to the Super 7.

The Super 7 will feature seven teams playing a complete single round robin, producing 21 matches. India, Australia, Pakistan, England, New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have been pre-seeded into designated positions, although a qualifying team can take the position of a seeded side it finishes above.

The top four teams after the Super 7 will advance to the semi-finals. The first-placed team will meet fourth, while second will face third. The semi-finals are scheduled for Cape Town on November 17 and Tshwane on November 18, with the final in Johannesburg on November 21.

Ten teams had secured direct qualification by September 30, 2026, including hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. The remaining four places will be decided through the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027. The qualifier winner will enter the Group Stage, while the second-, third- and fourth-placed teams will enter the Super Series.

The tournament's schedule now provides the competitive pathway through to the final, while the ticket ballot remains open until 11:59 p.m. SAST on November 21, 2026.