Cape Town: The schedule for the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027 has been finalised and is set to be officially announced on October 1, with the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Cricket South Africa (CSA) expected to unveil the fixtures in Cape Town.

The 2027 ODI World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will feature 14 teams. The tournament will mark the return of the men’s 50-over World Cup to Africa after 24 years. The ICC has already announced 12 host venues across the three countries.

World Cup schedule to be unveiled on October 1

According to a report cited by NDTV Sports, the ICC and CSA will announce the complete schedule in Cape Town on Thursday, October 1. The report said the tournament is scheduled to begin on October 1 and conclude on November 19, although the ICC’s official material has so far described the event window more broadly as October-November 2027.

The schedule announcement will also provide greater clarity on the venues and match sequence for the expanded 14-team tournament.

The ICC is also expected to open the ticket-ballot registration process on October 1. Fans will be able to register their interest for the ballot, although tickets will not immediately go on general sale, according to the NDTV report.

14 teams to compete in a new format

The 2027 edition will feature 14 teams, up from the 10-team competition held in India in 2023.

The ICC has introduced a new three-stage format for the expanded tournament. The competition will begin with a Super Series involving the three lowest-ranked teams among the 14 qualified sides. Those three teams will play each other, with the winner progressing to the next stage.

The second round will feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six. They will play 30 matches, after which the top three teams from each group and the next best-placed team across the two groups will advance to the Super 7 stage.

The Super 7 stage will consist of 21 matches. The top four teams will then qualify for the semi-finals, with the first-placed team playing the fourth-placed side and the second-placed team facing the third-placed team.

The winners of the semi-finals will meet in the final.

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia to host

South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are the three co-hosts of the 2027 World Cup.

The ICC announced 12 host cities and venues in July. South Africa will host matches in eight cities, Zimbabwe in three and Namibia in one. Windhoek will become the first Namibian city to host matches at the men’s senior World Cup.

The tournament will return to Africa for the first time since the 2003 edition, which was hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya. The 2027 event will therefore be the first men’s ODI World Cup to be staged in Africa since then, while Namibia will make its debut as a host of the marquee senior tournament.

India among teams on course to qualify

The qualification picture will become clearer after September 30, which is the cut-off date mentioned in the NDTV report.

Hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe have already secured their places. The remaining teams are being determined through the ICC ODI rankings and the qualification tournament.

According to the latest report, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Australia, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh were on course to qualify through the ODI rankings. Bangladesh’s position was helped by South Africa already having secured qualification as a host.

West Indies, meanwhile, are set to enter the qualification tournament, which is scheduled to take place early next year. Four places in the 14-team tournament will ultimately be filled through the qualification process.

India preparing for another World Cup campaign

India will enter the 2027 tournament with the 2023 World Cup final still part of the recent history of the competition. India went unbeaten through the 2023 tournament before losing to Australia in the final.

The 2027 edition will also come under a different format, with the expansion from 10 to 14 teams expected to create additional stages and matches before the semi-finals. The final schedule will determine India’s opponents, venues and route through the competition once the participating teams are confirmed.

India’s ODI preparations will also continue through its international calendar ahead of the tournament. The ICC has already identified the 2027 World Cup as the next major 50-over global event following the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup.

What to expect on October 1

The October 1 announcement is expected to reveal the complete match schedule, including fixtures, venues and the tournament structure in greater detail.

The ticket-ballot registration is also expected to open on the same day, giving supporters an opportunity to register ahead of the eventual ticket sale.

With the hosts already confirmed and the qualification process nearing its cut-off, the October 1 announcement will provide the first complete picture of how the 2027 ODI World Cup will unfold across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.