00:00:00
Live countdown to ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 on October 19, 2027. Displays days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining. Fullscreen mode for TVs and projectors.
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 begins on October 19, 2027, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia—the first time the tournament will be staged across three African nations. Fourteen teams will compete in the 50-over format over approximately six weeks, vying for cricket's most coveted trophy and the title of world champions.
The Cricket World Cup has been held every four years since the inaugural tournament in England in 1975. Australia leads the all-time winners list with six titles, followed by India with two. The 2023 edition in India showcased the sport's enormous global fanbase, with packed stadiums of 130,000 at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad and billions of television viewers worldwide.
Hosting the World Cup in Southern Africa is a landmark for cricket's development on the continent. South Africa is the region's cricketing powerhouse, with world-class venues in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, and Centurion. Zimbabwe has hosted international cricket since the 1990s, while Namibia's inclusion reflects the ICC's commitment to growing the game in emerging nations—Namibia qualified for the T20 World Cup in 2021 and 2022, capturing global attention.
The 50-over format rewards a blend of patience, strategy, and explosive batting. Modern ODI cricket has evolved dramatically, with scores of 350 or more now common and all-round athletes dominating the game. The World Cup's round-robin-plus-knockout format ensures every match matters, building tension throughout the tournament until the final.
How many teams play in the 2027 Cricket World Cup? Fourteen teams will compete, including automatic qualifiers based on ICC rankings and additional teams that earn their place through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier tournament.
Where will matches be played? Matches will be hosted across venues in South Africa (Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Centurion, and others), Zimbabwe (Harare, Bulawayo), and Namibia (Windhoek). South Africa will host the majority of games, including the knockout rounds.
What format is the Cricket World Cup? The tournament uses the 50-overs-per-side One Day International (ODI) format. Teams typically play in a round-robin group stage followed by semifinals and a final. The exact structure for 2027 will be confirmed by the ICC closer to the event.