ICC World Cup 2027: All you need to know about the 14-team tournament

The countdown to the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup has begun, with the 14th edition of the tournament set to return to African soil for the first time in 24 years. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the 14-team ODI World Cup.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) are expected to unveil the tournament schedule on October 1 in Cape Town, almost exactly a year before the competition begins. The announcement is also expected to open registrations for the World Cup ticket ballot.

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The tournament is scheduled to run from October 4 to November 21, 2027, although the exact opening date will be confirmed when the official schedule is released. The final is expected to be played on November 21.

Which teams have qualified for the 2027 World Cup?

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A total of 14 teams will compete in the 2027 World Cup, with 10 places being decided directly and the remaining four awarded through a qualification tournament.

Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe have automatic places in the tournament. Namibia, despite being the third co-host, does not receive an automatic berth because it is not an ICC Full Member and must qualify through the designated pathway.

Based on the ODI rankings ahead of the September 30 qualification cut-off, the eight teams currently occupying the direct qualification positions are:

• India
• New Zealand
• Pakistan
• Australia
• England
• Sri Lanka
• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh

South Africa, currently ranked third, is already assured of a place as a co-host, while Zimbabwe also qualifies automatically.

The final list of 10 directly qualified teams will be formally determined after the September 30 rankings cut-off.

West Indies face another qualification campaign

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The West Indies, two-time World Cup champions, are set to miss out on direct qualification and will have to go through the qualifying tournament.

The Caribbean side is currently ranked outside the eight direct qualification places. Ireland is also expected to enter the qualification route alongside a number of Associate nations.

The 2027 World Cup Qualifier is scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 23, 2027. Ten teams will compete for the four remaining World Cup places.

The field is expected to comprise the West Indies, Ireland, the top four teams from CWC League 2 and the top four sides from the Qualifier Playoff.

The top four teams in the qualifier will secure places at the World Cup.

Namibia will also have to earn its place through the qualification pathway, meaning it is possible for one of the three host nations to miss the tournament itself.

What is the format of the 2027 World Cup?

The ICC has introduced a new three-stage format for the expanded 14-team tournament.

The competition will begin with a Super Series, involving the three lowest-seeded teams among the 14 qualifiers. They will play each other in a round-robin format, with the top side advancing to the next stage.

The second stage will feature 12 teams, divided into two groups of six. Each team will play the others in its group.

Following the group stage, the top three teams from each group will progress, along with the best fourth-placed team across the two groups, creating a seven-team Super 7 stage.

The Super 7 stage will consist of 21 round-robin matches. The four highest-ranked teams will then advance to the semi-finals.

In the semi-finals, the team finishing first will face the fourth-placed side, while the second-placed team will meet the third-placed team.

The winners will advance to the World Cup final, where the 2027 champion will be crowned.

Where will the 2027 World Cup be played?

The ICC has confirmed 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.

South Africa will host matches in eight locations: Johannesburg, Cape Town, Centurion, Durban, Gqeberha, East London (KuGompo City),Paarl and Bloemfontein

Zimbabwe will have three venues: Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls

Namibia will host matches in Windhoek.

Local reports have indicated that Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium could be the venue for the final, although the official schedule is expected to confirm the knockout venues.

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When will the ICC release the World Cup schedule?

The ICC and Cricket South Africa are expected to announce the 2027 World Cup schedule on October 1 in Cape Town.

The timing comes immediately after the September 30 qualification cut-off, allowing the ICC to confirm the directly qualified teams alongside the fixture announcement.

The schedule is expected to reveal the opening match, venues for each fixture, the semi-final locations and the venue for the final.

Although tickets will not immediately go on general sale, fans will be able to register for the ticket ballot from October 1.

With 14 teams, three host nations and a completely revamped format, the 2027 World Cup will be significantly larger and structurally different from the 10-team editions held in 2019 and 2023.

The official schedule will provide the first complete picture of how the expanded tournament will unfold across southern Africa.