ICC Men's Cricket
World Cup 2027
The 14th edition of cricket's biggest prize — 14 nations, 55 matches, 12 venues across South Africa, Zimbabwe & Namibia. Australia enter as six-time defending champions.
Hosts
SA / ZIM / NAM
Teams
14
Matches
55
Venues
12
Host Nations
8 venues · 44 matches
Primary host — 8 venues including Johannesburg & Cape Town
2 venues · 6 matches
Co-host — Harare and Bulawayo
2 venues · 5 matches
First-ever ICC event host — Windhoek
All ODI World Cup Winners (1975–2023)
| Year | Champion | Margin |
|---|---|---|
| 2023LATEST | 🇦🇺Australia | 6 wickets |
| 2019 | 🏴England | Super Over |
| 2015 | 🇦🇺Australia | 7 wickets |
| 2011 | 🇮🇳India | 6 wickets |
| 2007 | 🇦🇺Australia | 53 runs (D/L) |
| 2003 | 🇦🇺Australia | 125 runs |
| 1999 | 🇦🇺Australia | 8 wickets |
| 1996 | 🇱🇰Sri Lanka | 7 wickets |
| 1992 | 🇵🇰Pakistan | 22 runs |
| 1987 | 🇦🇺Australia | 7 runs |
| 1983 | 🇮🇳India | 43 runs |
| 1979 | 🌐West Indies | 92 runs |
| 1975 | 🌐West Indies | 17 runs |
Tournament Format
14 Teams, Group Stage
All 14 qualified teams compete in a round-robin group phase. The top teams from each group advance to the Super 8s or knockout rounds.
55 Matches Across 12 Venues
44 matches in South Africa, with Zimbabwe and Namibia hosting 11 combined. First ODI World Cup to be staged across three African nations.
Expanded Field
14 teams is an expansion from the 10-team formats used in 2019 and 2023, giving more nations a chance to compete at the sport's biggest stage.
Final — November 13, 2027
The final is scheduled for November 13, 2027. Venue TBC — expected to be one of South Africa's major stadiums.
ODI World Cup 2027 FAQs
Where is the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 held?
The 2027 ICC Men's ODI World Cup is co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. It will be the first time Namibia has hosted a major ICC event. South Africa will stage the majority of matches (44 of 55) across 8 venues including Johannesburg and Cape Town.
When is the Cricket World Cup 2027?
The ICC Men's ODI World Cup 2027 runs from October 8 to November 13, 2027, spanning 37 days across 12 venues in three countries.
How many teams play in the Cricket World Cup 2027?
14 teams compete in the 2027 ODI World Cup — an expansion from the 10-team format used in 2019 and 2023. A total of 55 matches will be played.
Who are the defending champions for the 2027 World Cup?
Australia are the defending champions, having won the 2023 ODI World Cup by beating India by 6 wickets in the final at Ahmedabad, India on November 19, 2023. It was Australia's record 6th ODI World Cup title.
Which team has won the most Cricket World Cups?
Australia have won the most ODI World Cup titles with 6 (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, 2023). India and West Indies are next with 2 titles each. England, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have one title each.
ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 — Full Preview
The ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2027 will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from 8 October to 13 November 2027. It is the first time the tournament has been held on African soil in 20 years — the 2003 edition was jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya — and Namibia will become the first country to host a major ICC event for the first time. The tournament expands to 14 teams from the 10-team format used in 2019 and 2023, with 55 matches across 12 venues in three countries.
Australia arrive as defending champions having beaten India by 6 wickets in the 2023 final at Ahmedabad. They have won six ODI World Cup titles in total — 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015, and 2023 — the most of any nation by a distance. India, with titles in 1983 and 2011, and West Indies, who won the first two editions in 1975 and 1979, are the only other teams with multiple titles. England won their sole title in 2019 in one of cricket's most dramatic finals — a tie with New Zealand resolved on boundary count after a Super Over also tied. Pakistan and Sri Lanka each have one title.
South Africa host the vast majority of matches — 44 of 55 — across 8 venues including Johannesburg's Wanderers, Cape Town's Newlands, and Centurion's SuperSport Park. South Africa have never won an ODI World Cup despite being consistent semi-finalists and possessing some of world cricket's most gifted squads. The 1999 semi-final elimination (a tie with Australia that sent Australia through under the run-rate rules of the time), the 2003 calculation error that eliminated them in the Super Six stage, and the 2023 semi-final loss to Australia are the landmark moments in South African World Cup history. Home conditions will be the strongest tailwind they have ever had in this tournament.
The format changes from 2023: 14 teams are split into two groups of seven, with the top three from each group advancing to a Super Six stage before the semi-finals and final. Associate teams who have qualified through the ICC Super League and regional qualifying events join the ten Full Members in the main draw. For qualification status, fixtures, and group-stage standings once the tournament begins, this page will update live. The tournament's host venues and a full archive of all previous editions are also linked from here.