The International Cricket Council has officially confirmed 12 cities that will host the 2027 men's ODI World Cup, bringing the tournament back to Southern Africa for the first time in 24 years. The 54-match tournament, provisionally scheduled to run from October 4 to November 21, 2027, will see the majority of games staged across South Africa, with additional fixtures in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
South Africa will host the bulk of the matches in eight cities: Johannesburg, Centurion, Durban, Gqeberha, KuGompo City, Cape Town, Paarl, and Bloemfontein. The final is expected to take place at either the Wanderers or Newlands. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe will host between seven and 10 games split between Harare, Bulawayo, and Victoria Falls. Namibia is set to host at least three matches, marking the first time the country will hold a senior ICC tournament.
Victoria Falls is a new addition to the venue list, featuring a 10,000-seater stadium currently under construction. The facility is expected to be completed later this year and officially opened in the first quarter of 2027 for international play. Additionally, Benoni and Potchefstroom have been designated as warm-up venues and are likely to co-host the World Cup Qualifier with Namibia early next year. This scheduling is intended to avoid conflicts with the SA20, which will occupy South Africa's six primary stadiums.
This event marks a significant return for the region, which last hosted the tournament in 2003 alongside Kenya. Since that time, South Africa has hosted various ICC events, including the 2007 men's T20 World Cup, the 2023 women's T20 World Cup, and multiple U-19 World Cups. Namibia, having co-hosted the Under-19 men's World Cup with Zimbabwe earlier this year, continues to expand its international cricket footprint. Visual documentation of the venue preparations can be found at /lsci/db/PICTURES/CMS/420500/420520.square.jpg.
[L to R] Tavengwa Mukuhlani, chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, Jay Shah, ICC chairman, Rihan Richards, president of Cricket South Africa, and Rudie van Vuuren, president of Namibia Cricket, launch the 2027 ODI World Cup
[L to R] Tavengwa Mukuhlani, chairman of Zimbabwe Cricket, Jay Shah, ICC chairman, Rihan Richards, president of Cricket South Africa, and Rudie van Vuuren, president of Namibia Cricket, launch the 2027 ODI World Cup, Sandton, July 30, 2026
