The International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the schedule for the highly anticipated ODI World Cup 2027 on Thursday, October 1. The 14-team tournament will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, and will begin on October 2 next year, with India and Australia set to feature in the opening match of the Super Six stage.
The final of the tournament will be held on November 21, as the new format of the tournament features 57 matches. Moving past the 10-team league stage and knockout format from the last two editions, the ODI World Cup 2027 will feature an initial preliminary phase involving the lowest three ranked sides.
The winner of the preliminary phase will join the other 11 qualified members in the Super Six stage of the tournament. It will be followed by the Super 7 stage and the knockouts before the champions are crowned.
“Group stage action begins on 7 October in Cape Town with a repeat of the 2023 Final as defending champions Australia take on India. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe begin their campaigns on 9 October and 11 October respectively. South Africa take on New Zealand in Cape Town, with Zimbabwe meeting Afghanistan in Bulawayo,” ICC’s official statement reads.
“Of the 14 teams at the tournament, South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified directly as hosts, alongside the best eight teams on the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the 30 September 2026 cut-off,” the statement continued.
This marks the second time that South Africa hosts the ODI World Cup, with the first time being the iconic 2003 edition.
Complete ODI World Cup 2027 schedule with venues and timings in IST
