The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the 12 venues that will host the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, which will be jointly staged by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The announcement was made during a launch event in Johannesburg, confirming eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia. The tournament marked the return of the Men’s Cricket World Cup to Africa after 24 years, following the 2003 edition hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.
South Africa will host matches at Wanderers Stadium, SuperSport Park, Newlands Cricket Ground, Kingsmead Cricket Ground, St George’s Park, Mangaung Oval, Boland Park and Buffalo Park. Zimbabwe will use Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek will host matches in Namibia.
The 2027 tournament will feature the world’s top 14 teams and carry the theme “Three Nations, One Heartbeat.” The campaign aims to highlight the cultural diversity, unity and shared passion for cricket across the three host countries.
The tournament will also embrace the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which reflects togetherness and human connection. The ICC’s “Make the Circle Bigger” campaign will further showcase the region’s cultural richness and diversity.
The competition will feature 57 matches under a new three-stage format. A Super Series involving teams ranked 12th to 14th will determine the final qualifier. The remaining 12 teams will then compete in two groups of six before progressing to the Super Seven stage.
The top four teams from the Super Seven will advance to the semi-finals, followed by the final.
Namibia will host its first senior ICC global tournament, while South Africa and Zimbabwe bring significant experience from previous major international events.
The ICC said the tournament is expected to create a lasting legacy by growing cricket in Africa and inspiring a new generation of players and fans.
