The ICC has announced the ODI World Cup 2027 schedule, with India vs Pakistan set for October 10 in Johannesburg after India’s opener against Australia
New Delhi: The ICC has announced the complete schedule for the 2027 Men’s ODI World Cup, setting up an early blockbuster for India. India will open their campaign against Australia in Cape Town on October 7 before facing Pakistan in Johannesburg just three days later. The tournament will bring 14 teams together across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia under a new three-stage format.
The ICC confirms the 2027 World Cup schedule
The International Cricket Council announced the full fixture list on October 1, 2026. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the tournament, which will feature 57 matches across 12 venues.
The ICC will use eight venues in South Africa, three in Zimbabwe and one in Namibia. South Africa will host 44 matches, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will share the remaining 10. This edition also marks the return of the men’s ODI World Cup to African soil after 24 years.
The overall tournament window runs from October 2 to November 21, 2027. It will begin with the Super Series on October 2 in Windhoek, followed by the main Group Stage on October 7. At the same time, some listings may show October 4 as the start of the formal competition window.
Based on the ICC’s schedule announcement, October 2 marks the beginning of the Super Series. As a result, October 2 should be treated as the tournament’s official starting date.
India’s campaign: five group games, two blockbuster starts
India enter Group A alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
The opening week immediately gives India two major assignments. India will meet Australia in Cape Town on October 7 and then travel to Johannesburg for the Pakistan clash on October 10.
After those two matches, India will face Afghanistan on October 14, Qualifier A on October 17 and Zimbabwe on October 24. The five-match group campaign will therefore take India across several venues in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
India’s Group Stage schedule
India will begin its campaign against Australia on October 7 in Cape Town. Three days later, India will face Pakistan on October 10 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. India will then take on Afghanistan on October 14 in Tshwane. Next, India will meet Qualifier A on October 17 in Bloemfontein. Finally, India will play Zimbabwe on October 24 in Victoria Falls, completing its Group Stage fixtures.
Why October 10 matters: India vs Pakistan in Johannesburg
India and Pakistan will meet at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on October 10. The fixture comes only three days after India’s opening match against Australia, giving the clash a prominent place in the early part of the tournament.
The same venue will also host the 2027 World Cup final on November 21. That gives Johannesburg a central role in the tournament, with the city hosting the India-Pakistan group match as well as the final.
A new format, explained simply
The 2027 World Cup will use a three-stage competition involving 14 teams.
The tournament first begins with a three-team Super Series in Windhoek. The three lowest-ranked qualifying teams will play each other, and the winner will join the main Group Stage.
The remaining 12 teams will then split into two groups of six. Each team will play every other team in its group.
The top three teams from each group will advance automatically to the Super 7. The fourth-placed teams will effectively compete for the final Super 7 place, with the better-performing side joining the six automatic qualifiers.
Full fixture list: Super Series and Group Stage
Super Series — Windhoek
| Date | Match |
|---|---|
| October 2 | QF1 vs QF3 |
| October 4 | QF1 vs QF2 |
| October 6 | QF2 vs QF3 |
Group Stage
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
| Oct 8 | Pakistan vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| Oct 8 | England vs Bangladesh | Windhoek |
| Oct 9 | Zimbabwe vs Qualifier A | Bulawayo |
| Oct 9 | South Africa vs New Zealand | Cape Town |
| Oct 10 | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| Oct 10 | Sri Lanka vs Qualifier B | Windhoek |
| Oct 11 | Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan | Bulawayo |
| Oct 12 | Australia vs Qualifier A | Paarl |
| Oct 12 | New Zealand vs Bangladesh | East London (Buffalo City) |
| Oct 13 | England vs Sri Lanka | Windhoek |
| Oct 13 | South Africa vs Qualifier B | Paarl |
| Oct 14 | India vs Afghanistan | Tshwane |
| Oct 15 | Pakistan vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
| Oct 15 | Zimbabwe vs Australia | Harare |
| Oct 16 | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Durban |
| Oct 16 | South Africa vs England | Gqeberha |
| Oct 17 | India vs Qualifier A | Bloemfontein |
| Oct 17 | New Zealand vs Qualifier B | Harare |
| Oct 18 | Australia vs Afghanistan | East London |
| Oct 19 | Zimbabwe vs Pakistan | Harare |
| Oct 19 | South Africa vs Bangladesh | Durban |
| Oct 20 | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka | Johannesburg |
| Oct 20 | England vs Qualifier B | Harare |
| Oct 21 | Afghanistan vs Qualifier A | East London |
| Oct 22 | Australia vs Pakistan | Paarl |
| Oct 22 | South Africa vs Sri Lanka | Johannesburg |
| Oct 23 | England vs New Zealand | Gqeberha |
| Oct 23 | Bangladesh vs Qualifier B | Tshwane |
| Oct 24 | Zimbabwe vs India | Victoria Falls |
The Super 7 stage and how teams advance
The Super 7 will feature 21 matches. The seven teams will play each other once, and their group-stage points will not carry into this phase.
The top four teams from the Super 7 will reach the semi-finals. The first-placed team will meet the fourth-placed team, while second place will face third place.
Super 7 fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 25 | A2 (Australia) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) | Johannesburg |
| Oct 26 | B1 (New Zealand) vs A3 (Pakistan) | Gqeberha |
| Oct 27 | B2 (South Africa) vs AB4 (England) | Tshwane |
| Oct 28 | A1 (India) vs A2 (Australia) | Victoria Falls |
| Oct 29 | B1 (New Zealand) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) | East London |
| Oct 30 | A3 (Pakistan) vs AB4 (England) | Victoria Falls |
| Oct 31 | B2 (South Africa) vs A1 (India) | Johannesburg |
| Nov 1 | A2 (Australia) vs B1 (New Zealand) | Victoria Falls |
| Nov 2 | B3 (Sri Lanka) vs AB4 (England) | Cape Town |
| Nov 3 | B2 (South Africa) vs A3 (Pakistan) | Durban |
| Nov 4 | A1 (India) vs B1 (New Zealand) | Paarl |
| Nov 5 | A2 (Australia) vs AB4 (England) | Durban |
| Nov 6 | B2 (South Africa) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 7 | A1 (India) vs A3 (Pakistan) | Cape Town |
| Nov 8 | B1 (New Zealand) vs AB4 (England) | Durban |
| Nov 9 | B2 (South Africa) vs A2 (Australia) | Gqeberha |
| Nov 10 | A3 (Pakistan) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 11 | A1 (India) vs AB4 (England) | Gqeberha |
| Nov 12 | B2 (South Africa) vs B1 (New Zealand) | Cape Town |
| Nov 13 | A2 (Australia) vs A3 (Pakistan) | Bloemfontein |
| Nov 14 | A1 (India) vs B3 (Sri Lanka) | Durban |
Knockouts: semi-finals and the Johannesburg final
The Super 7 stage will finish on November 14. The tournament will then move into the knockout phase.
The first semi-final will take place in Cape Town on November 17, followed by the second semi-final in Tshwane on November 18. The winners will meet at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg for the final on November 21.
The ICC has also assigned reserve days for the semi-finals and final if weather or other disruptions prevent the matches from finishing as scheduled.
Knockout schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 17 | Semi-final 1 | Cape Town |
| Nov 18 | Semi-final 2 | Tshwane |
| Nov 21 | Final | Johannesburg (Wanderers Stadium) |
The tournament returns to Africa after 24 years
The 2027 World Cup will return to Africa for the first time since the 2003 Men’s World Cup. Meanwhile, South Africa and Zimbabwe also co-hosted that edition, while Namibia will host matches in a senior men’s World Cup for the first time.
The tournament will spread across 12 venues, giving fans matches in major South African centres as well as Zimbabwe and Windhoek. Namibia’s capital will host the Super Series and several Group Stage fixtures.
Tickets and what fans should know
The ICC opened its ticket ballot on October 1, alongside the schedule announcement. Fans can register for individual matches and request up to four tickets per match. Entry into the ballot is free and does not guarantee a ticket.
The ICC says the ballot will consider valid entries received between October 1 and November 21 equally rather than using a first-come, first-served system. Where demand exceeds available seats, a randomised process will determine who gets an opportunity to buy tickets.
India’s World Cup journey will begin in Cape Town on October 7 and quickly move to Johannesburg for the Pakistan clash on October 10. The new format will then take the teams through the Group Stage, Super 7 and, for the top four, the semi-finals before the November 21 final.
