The International Cricket Council has confirmed 12 host cities across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, unveiling the tournament’s venues and brand at a ceremony in Johannesburg.
Eight South African cities will stage the bulk of the tournament: Johannesburg (Wanderers Stadium), Tshwane (Centurion), Cape Town (Newlands), Durban (Kingsmead), Gqeberha (St George’s Park), Bloemfontein (Mangaung Oval), Paarl (Boland Park) and KuGompo City (Buffalo Park), formerly known as East London. Zimbabwe will host matches at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the new Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium at Victoria Falls. Windhoek’s Namibia Cricket Ground completes the list.
ESPNcricinfo reported that the final will be played at either the Wanderers or Newlands, and that Victoria Falls is the only venue added since the original hosting plan was agreed several years ago. Its 10,000-seat stadium is due for completion later this year.
The tournament marks the 50-over World Cup’s first return to Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya co-hosted. Namibia will stage a senior ICC tournament for the first time, having co-hosted the Under-19 men’s World Cup earlier this year.
The ICC said the event will run under a “Three Nations, One Heartbeat” brand drawing on the southern African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am, because we are.”
“The return of this prestigious tournament to Africa after 24 years is a landmark moment for cricket,” ICC Chairman Jay Shah said, adding that the governing body was confident the three hosts would “deliver an unforgettable event.”
The 14-team event will feature 57 matches under a new three-stage format, according to the ICC. A Super Series will see the sides ranked 12th to 14th play a round-robin, with the winner advancing to a 30-match group stage of 12 teams split into two groups of six. The top three from each group, plus the next best-placed side from either, move into a 21-match Super 7 round, from which four teams reach the semi-finals.
ESPNcricinfo reported the tournament is provisionally scheduled to run from 4 October to 21 November 2027, with a qualifying event early that year deciding the remaining places in the field.