ICC Unveils 12 Host Venues for 2027 Men’sa Cricket World Cup Across Three African Nations

JOHANNESBURG: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the 12 venues that will host the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, with South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia set to stage the tournament across three nations.

The announcement was made at a launch event in Johannesburg on Thursday, where organisers revealed that eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia will welcome the world’s biggest 50-over cricket tournament.

South Africa will stage matches at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, SuperSport Park in Centurion, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City, previously known as East London.

Zimbabwe’s fixtures will be played at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, while Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will serve as the country’s sole World Cup venue.

The ICC has also opened fan registration for those wishing to receive updates regarding ticket sales, fixtures and tournament-related information.

The 2027 edition will mark the return of the Men’s ODI World Cup to African soil for the first time since the 2003 tournament, which was jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

Featuring 14 teams, the competition will be held under the slogan “Three Nations, One Heartbeat,” symbolising the unity, diversity and shared passion for cricket across the three host countries.

The tournament will also embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — while the “Make the Circle Bigger” campaign aims to celebrate the continent’s cultural richness, its 29 officially recognised languages and its inclusive spirit.

ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the unveiling of the host cities and tournament identity as an important step in the build-up to the event.

“This marks an exciting milestone on the road to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The announcement of the host cities and tournament brand begins the countdown to one of cricket’s biggest global events.”

“Bringing the World Cup back to Africa after 24 years is a significant moment for the sport, and we are confident South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will deliver a memorable tournament while showcasing the region’s warmth, diversity and passion for cricket,” Shah added.

ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said the World Cup represents the pinnacle of ODI cricket and that Africa’s vibrant culture, stunning landscapes and love for the game will provide a fitting backdrop for the tournament.

He added that the newly unveiled tournament identity captures the energy and ambition of the event, while each host city will offer fans a unique experience. Gupta also expressed confidence that the competition would leave a lasting legacy by inspiring future generations and contributing to cricket’s continued growth across the region.

The launch ceremony featured several prominent cricket personalities, including South Africa’s Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, along with Zimbabwe’s Hamilton Masakadza and Namibia’s Rudolf Jansen van Vuuren.

The tournament branding takes inspiration from the traditional African wire bowl and incorporates colours representing the three host nations, including Zimbabwe Chilli, African Root, Fynbos Pop, Namib Dune, Harare Dawn and Two Oceans.

South Africa has extensive experience hosting ICC tournaments, having staged the inaugural Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the Women’s T20 World Cup in 2023 and the Under-19 Men’s World Cups in 2020 and 2024. Zimbabwe previously co-hosted the 2003 ODI World Cup, while Namibia is set to host its first senior ICC global event after also staging matches during this year’s Under-19 Men’s World Cup.

The 2027 World Cup will consist of 57 matches and introduce a revamped three-stage format. Teams ranked 12th to 14th will first compete in a Super Series, with the winner securing the final berth in the main tournament.

The remaining 12 teams will then be split into two groups of six for a 30-match round-robin phase. The top three teams from each group, along with the next best-ranked side overall, will progress to the Super Seven stage.

The Super Seven will feature 21 matches, after which the top four teams will advance to the semi-finals. The table-toppers will face the fourth-placed team, while the second and third-placed sides will contest the other semi-final, with the winners meeting in the final.

2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Host Venues

South Africa: Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), SuperSport Park (Centurion), Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban), St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl) and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City).

Zimbabwe: Harare Sports Club (Harare), Queens Sports Club (Bulawayo) and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium (Victoria Falls).

Namibia: Namibia Cricket Ground (Windhoek).