The proposed dates were approved during an ICC Board meeting held in Ahmedabad in May. However, the schedule is still awaiting final confirmation, which is expected during the ICC Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh this July.
According to the preliminary plan, South Africa will host the majority of the matches. Out of the tournament’s expected 54 games, at least 41 are likely to be played across eight venues in the country. Zimbabwe is expected to stage between eight and ten matches, while Namibia is set to host three fixtures.
Zimbabwe may also expand its list of venues from two to three. Alongside Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, Victoria Falls is expected to be added as a host city. A new venue, the Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium, is currently under construction in Victoria Falls and is expected to be completed later this year.
The stadium will initially host domestic matches before its official inauguration, which is planned for May next year. Earlier reports suggested South Africa could tour Zimbabwe to help launch the venue for international cricket, but those plans have reportedly been dropped.
The 2027 ODI World Cup will be the first men’s World Cup held in Africa since the 2003 edition. It will also mark the return of the 14-team format after the last two tournaments featured only 10 teams.
Under the proposed structure, the 14 participating teams will be divided into two groups of seven. The top three teams from each group will progress to the Super Six stage before the knockout rounds.
As Full Members of the ICC, South Africa and Zimbabwe will qualify automatically, while Namibia must earn its place through the qualification process. The tournament will also begin the 2027-2031 Future Tours Programme cycle, with further ICC decisions expected at the upcoming AGM.
