The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg will stage the final of the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, returning to the venue that hosted the tournament’s title decider in 2003 and adding another major fixture to what promises to be one of the biggest cricket events staged in southern Africa.

Wanderers will also host the highly anticipated India-Pakistan group match on October 10, while Cape Town’s Newlands will stage the opening match of the tournament on October 7, when defending champions Australia face India in a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final.

The tournament will be played across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, with the opening date chosen to coincide with Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The semi-finals and final will have reserve days.

Wanderers, which has a capacity of more than 30,000 and is regarded as South Africa’s largest cricket ground, has been preferred for the final ahead of Newlands, one of world cricket’s most recognisable venues because of its spectacular Table Mountain backdrop.

Newlands will nevertheless remain at the centre of the tournament, hosting the opening game as well as the first semi-final on November 17. The second semi-final will be played at SuperSport Park in Tshwane, formerly known as Centurion, on November 18.

Sri Lanka placed in Group B

Sri Lanka have been drawn in Group B alongside England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh and one qualifier, setting up a demanding first phase for the 1996 champions.

Group A comprises India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and the other qualifier.

Sri Lanka’s place in the main tournament was secured through the automatic qualification process, with the top eight teams outside the two co-hosts in the ICC ODI rankings on September 30 earning direct entry.

South Africa will begin their campaign against New Zealand at Newlands on October 9, while Zimbabwe will launch their campaign against Afghanistan in Bulawayo on October 11.

The remaining two places in the 12-team main tournament will be decided through a 10-team qualifying tournament early next year. The winner will qualify directly for the World Cup, while the losing finalist and the two losing semi-finalists will enter the preliminary Super Series in Namibia.

Three-team Super Series in Namibia

Before the main World Cup begins, the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host a three-team Super Series involving the losing finalists and losing semi-finalists from the qualifying tournament.

The winner of that preliminary competition will claim the final place in the 12-team World Cup group stage.

Windhoek will also host three group matches during the main tournament, including two involving England.

Zimbabwe will host five group-stage matches, all of them on home soil. The newly constructed Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls will host the final group-stage match, India against Zimbabwe on October 24.

New Super 7 phase

The tournament format introduces a Super 7 phase after the group stage.

The top three teams from each group will advance, while the seventh place will be taken by the better-performing fourth-placed team from the two groups.

Several teams have already been assigned provisional seedings for the Super 7 phase. Under the current pre-seeding arrangement, India are A1, Australia A2, Pakistan A3, England AB4, New Zealand B1, South Africa B2 and Sri Lanka B3.

That could create the possibility of another India-Pakistan encounter in Cape Town on November 7, depending on the final group standings and which teams progress.

If an unseeded team such as Bangladesh or Afghanistan progresses at the expense of one of the seeded sides, it will inherit the seeding position of the team it replaces.

Sri Lanka could face India in Durban

Durban will host five matches during the tournament, including the final Super 7 fixture scheduled for November 14.

Based on the current pre-seeding, that match is listed as A1 India against B3 Sri Lanka, meaning Sri Lanka could face India in Durban if both teams progress and retain their designated positions.

The Super 7 phase will also feature major fixtures at Victoria Falls, where the current schedule has India facing Australia on October 28, Pakistan meeting England on October 30 and Australia taking on New Zealand on November 1.

12 venues across three countries

The 2027 World Cup will be spread across 12 venues in Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Namibia will be represented by Windhoek, while Zimbabwe will host matches in Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo.

South Africa’s venues are Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City in East London and Gqeberha.

With the final at Wanderers, India-Pakistan at the same venue, a repeat of the 2023 final opening the tournament at Newlands and Sri Lanka potentially meeting India in the decisive Super 7 fixture in Durban, the schedule has already created several headline fixtures even before the final two World Cup participants are confirmed.

The tournament begins on October 2 and concludes with the final at Wanderers on November 21.