South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia set to host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as the tournament returns to Africa after 24 years
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the 12 host venues for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, marking a major milestone in preparations for the global cricket spectacle.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, bringing the ODI World Cup back to the African continent for the first time since 2003.
The announcement was made during a launch event in Johannesburg, where ICC officials unveiled the tournament’s host cities and branding.
South Africa will host matches in eight cities, while Zimbabwe will stage games in three venues and Namibia will host fixtures in its capital city, Windhoek.
South Africa’s selected venues include Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, SuperSport Park in Centurion, Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town, Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City.
Zimbabwe’s venues are Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host matches, making it the country’s first senior ICC global tournament venue.
Cricket fans can now register their interest to receive updates regarding ticket sales and tournament-related information ahead of the event.
The 2027 edition will feature 14 of the world’s leading cricket nations and will be played under the theme “Three Nations, One Heartbeat.”
The concept celebrates unity, cultural diversity and shared passion for cricket among the host nations. The tournament will also embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu, emphasizing community, togetherness and human connection.
The tournament will feature 57 matches under a new three-stage format designed to enhance competitiveness.
Following an initial qualification phase, teams will compete in group-stage matches before progressing to the Super Seven round. The top four teams will then advance to the semi-finals, culminating in the grand final of the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.