The 14th edition of the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, set to take place in the year 2027, will see South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia co-host the 50-over spectacle. This edition of the tournament will mark
Namibia’s debut as a World Cup host. The tournament will have 14 teams, divided into two groups of seven, with each team playing the others in their group once during the round-robin stage, mirroring the 2003 format. The top three teams from each group will go to the Super Six stage, followed by semi-finals and a final to crown the champion.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has unveiled plans for the 2027 ICC Men’s ODI World Cup, confirming that South Africa will host 44 of the tournament’s 54 matches across eight iconic venues, with Zimbabwe and Namibia sharing the remaining 10. The announcement, made on Thursday, August 21, 2025, during the unveiling of the Local Organising Committee Board (LOCB), as the continent prepares to host its first men’s Cricket World Cup since 2003 with former South African cabinet minister Trevor Manuel will chair the LOCB.
CSA President Rihan Richards reportedly emphasized the tournament’s significance, stating, “Twenty-four years have passed since the last ICC Cricket World Cup took place on African soil.” He further highlighted that 2027 tournament as an opportunity attracting new fans while engaging existing ones.
Eight venues from South Africa has been finalised for conducting the matches
The eight South African venues for the ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2027 includes Johannesburg (Wanderers Stadium), Centurion (SuperSport Park), Cape Town (Newlands), Durban (Kingsmead), Gqeberha (St George’s Park), Bloemfontein (Mangaung Oval), East London (Buffalo Park), and Paarl (Boland Park). The ODI World Cup 2003, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya, was the last time the continent staged the event, with South Africa also hosting the inaugural ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2007, the ICC Champions Trophy 2009.
South Africa and Zimbabwe, as co-hosts, have secured automatic qualification, joined by the top eight teams in the ICC ODI rankings as of March 31, 2027. The remaining four spots will be determined through global qualifier tournaments.
Notably, Namibia, despite co-hosting, must earn their place through African qualifiers, as they are not a full ICC member. Zimbabwe and Namibia will each host five matches, with specific venues yet to be announced, though Zimbabwe’s Harare Sports Club and Bulawayo’s Queens Sports Club are likely candidates, given their history of hosting international matches. Namibia’s participation adds a fresh dimension, with potential venues like Wanderers Cricket Ground in Windhoek reportedly expected to draw global attention.
