The ODI World Cup 2027 will feature 14 teams across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament will start on October 2 and end on November 21, 2027. It will have 57 matches across 12 venues.
The ICC has introduced a new format for this edition. Teams will compete in a Super Series, a Group Stage and a seven-team Super 7 before the semi-finals.
The top three teams from each group will reach the Super 7. The better fourth-placed team across both groups will take the seventh spot.
India will begin its campaign against Australia on October 7 in Cape Town. India and Pakistan will then meet on October 10 in Johannesburg.
Here is everything you need to know about the ODI World Cup 2027 format, teams, groups, qualification rules and schedule.
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— ICC Cricket World Cup (@cricketworldcup) October 13, 2026
How Does The ODI World Cup 2027 Format Work?
The 2027 Cricket World Cup will have four stages. These are the Super Series, Group Stage, Super 7 and knockout rounds.
The tournament will start with three teams playing in the Super Series. Its winner will join 11 other teams in the Group Stage.
The 12 teams will be split into two groups of six. Each team will play five matches in this round.
Seven teams will then move to the Super 7. Every team will play six matches in this stage.
The top four teams will reach the semi-finals. The winners of those matches will meet in the final.
Here is the full format at a glance:
14 teams β 3 team Super Series β 12 team Group Stage β 7 team Super 7 β 4 semi finalists β Final
One important rule is that Group Stage points will not carry into the Super 7. All seven teams will start that stage with zero points.
This means teams will have to perform well in both league stages.
How Will Teams Qualify For The ODI World Cup 2027?
A total of 14 teams will take part in the tournament.
South Africa and Zimbabwe have qualified as hosts. They will be joined by the eight highest-ranked teams in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the September 30, 2026, cut-off.
The remaining four spots will come from the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The winner of that event will enter the World Cup Group Stage directly. The teams finishing second, third and fourth will play in the Super Series.
This gives those three teams one more chance to reach the main tournament.
However, only the Super Series winner will move forward. The other two teams will be out of the World Cup.
What Is The Super Series In ODI World Cup 2027?
The Super Series will decide the final team in the 12-team Group Stage.
It will feature the second, third and fourth placed teams from the 2027 World Cup Qualifier. Each team will play the other two sides once.
This will produce three matches. They are scheduled for October 2, 4 and 6 in Windhoek, Namibia.
The team at the top of the table will qualify for the Group Stage. The other two teams will be eliminated.
The winner of the World Cup Qualifier will not need to play these matches. It will already have a place in the Group Stage.
This makes finishing first in the Qualifier very important. It offers a direct route into the main World Cup.
How Will The 14 Teams Be Divided Into Groups?
The Group Stage will feature 12 teams in two groups of six.
Each team will play five matches. The ICC has announced the following group list:
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India | New Zealand |
| Australia | South Africa |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| Afghanistan | England |
| Zimbabwe | Bangladesh |
| Qualifier A | Qualifier B |
The two qualifier spots will be filled through the qualification process.
The Group Stage will begin on October 7, 2027. India will face Australia in Cape Town in the opening match of this stage.
India and Pakistan are set to meet three days later, on October 10, in Johannesburg.
Every team will have five matches to secure a place in the next round. A poor run could make qualification difficult.
The top three teams in each group will qualify for the Super 7. The fourth-placed teams will also have a chance, but only one of them can advance.
How Will Teams Qualify For The Super 7?
Seven teams will move from the Group Stage to the Super 7.
The top three teams from Group A will qualify. The same rule will apply to Group B.
This will fill six places. The seventh place will go to the better fourth-placed team across the two groups.
For example, the fourth-placed team in Group A could finish with more points than the fourth-placed team in Group B. In that case, the Group A team will take the final spot.
If both teams are level on points, the tournament’s tie-breaking rules will decide the winner.
This rule keeps the race alive for teams outside the top three. A side can still qualify even if it finishes fourth.
However, it will need a better record than the fourth-placed team in the other group.
How Does The Super 7 Stage Work?
The Super 7 will be the second league stage of the 2027 World Cup.
Seven teams will compete in this round. Each side will face the other six teams once.
This means every team will play six matches. The Super 7 will have 21 matches in total.
There is one major rule that teams and fans should remember. Points from the Group Stage will not carry forward.
All seven teams will start the Super 7 with zero points. Their earlier results will help them qualify, but those points will not count in the new table.
So, even a team that wins all five Group Stage matches will have to start again.
The same rule will apply to the team that qualifies in fourth place. It will have the same starting points as the other six teams.
The top four teams in the Super 7 table will reach the semi-finals. The other three teams will be eliminated.
What Is The Full Schedule For The Cricket World Cup 2027?
The ICC announced the full fixture list on October 1, 2026. The tournament will begin on October 2 in Namibia and end on November 21 in Johannesburg.
Here are some of the key dates and matches:
| Date | Match Or Stage | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| October 2 | First Super Series match: QF1 vs QF3 | Windhoek |
| October 4 | Super Series: QF1 vs QF2 | Windhoek |
| October 6 | Super Series: QF2 vs QF3 | Windhoek |
| October 7 | India vs Australia | Cape Town |
| October 8 | Pakistan vs Afghanistan | Centurion |
| October 9 | South Africa vs New Zealand | Cape Town |
| October 10 | India vs Pakistan | Johannesburg |
| October 25 to November 14 | Super 7 | Multiple venues |
| November 17 | First semi-final | Cape Town |
| November 18 | Second semi-final | Tshwane |
| November 21 | Final | Johannesburg |
| November 22 | Final reserve day | Johannesburg |
The Group Stage will run from October 7 to October 24. The Super 7 will follow from October 25 to November 14.
The semi-finals will take place on November 17 and 18. The final is scheduled for November 21, with November 22 as its reserve day.
The full fixture list includes all 57 matches. You can check the official ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 schedule for the complete list.
What Makes The 2027 World Cup Format Different From 2023?
The 2023 ODI World Cup had 10 teams in one group. Every team played nine matches in the league stage.
The top four teams moved straight to the semi-finals.
The 2027 edition will have 14 teams and a longer route to the knockout stage. It will include the Super Series, two groups and the Super 7.
| Feature | 2023 World Cup | 2027 World Cup |
|---|---|---|
| Number of teams | 10 | 14 |
| Group structure | One group of 10 | Two groups of six |
| Super Series | No | Yes |
| Super 7 | No | Yes |
| Route to semi-finals | Top four from one group | Top four from Super 7 |
| Total matches | 48 | 57 |
The biggest change is the second league stage. Teams will need to qualify from their groups and then perform again in the Super 7.
The points reset also makes this stage important. A good Group Stage record will not give any team extra points in the next round.
How Will The Semi-Finals And Final Be Decided?
The top four teams in the Super 7 will qualify for the semi-finals.
The first-placed team will face the fourth-placed team. The second-placed team will take on the third-placed team.
| Super 7 Position | Semi-Final Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1st | 4th |
| 2nd | 3rd |
The winners of the two semi-finals will meet in the final.
The first semi-final is scheduled for November 17 in Cape Town. The second will take place on November 18 in Tshwane.
The final will be played in Johannesburg on November 21. November 22 has been kept as a reserve day.
Finishing in the top two will be important. Those teams will face the third- and fourth-placed sides in the semi-finals.
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How Many ODI Matches Will Be Played In The 2027 World Cup?
The 2027 ODI World Cup will have 57 matches in total.
These include three Super Series matches, 30 Group Stage matches and 21 Super 7 games. The knockout stage will add two semi-finals and one final.
| Stage | Number Of Matches |
|---|---|
| Super Series | 3 |
| Group Stage | 30 |
| Super 7 | 21 |
| Semi Finals | 2 |
| Final | 1 |
| Total | 57 |
The Group Stage will have 30 matches because 12 teams will play five matches each.
The Super 7 will have 21 matches, with every team facing the other six sides.
This is nine more matches than the 2023 World Cup, which had 48 games.
Which Countries Will Host The ODI World Cup 2027?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia will jointly host the 2027 ODI World Cup.
The tournament will be played at 12 venues. South Africa will host eight venues, Zimbabwe three and Namibia one.
The South African venues include Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City and Gqeberha.
Zimbabwe will host matches in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. Windhoek in Namibia will host the Super Series and Group Stage matches.
The three host nations will offer different playing conditions. Teams will need to adjust their plans as they move between venues.
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All You Need to Know About ODI World Cup 2027 Format
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will feature 57 ODI matches. These include the Super Series, Group Stage, Super 7, two semi-finals, and the final.
The tournament will start on October 2, 2027, with the Super Series in Windhoek. The Group Stage begins on October 7, while the Super 7 runs from October 25 to November 14. The final will take place on November 21 in Johannesburg.
Virat Kohli has said that he wants to play in the 2027 ODI World Cup. He has also described it as his final World Cup for India. His place in the final squad will depend on his fitness and team selection.
The first match will be between QF1 and QF3 in the Super Series on October 2, 2027. It will take place in Windhoek, Namibia. India’s first match will be against Australia on October 7 in Cape Town.
The 2027 World Cup will feature 14 teams and four stages. These are the Super Series, a Group Stage with two groups of six, the seven-team Super 7 and the knockout rounds. The top four teams in the Super 7 will reach the semi-finals.
Aviral is a sports journalist. He has previously worked with established sports and media organisations, including The Sunday Guardian, Cricket Times, FFO Sports Publishing and Zee Media.
With experience across digital sports journalism and editorial operations, he covers cricket, football, tennis, Formula 1, NFL and other major sporting events.
His work focuses on breaking sports news, in-depth analysis, match predictions, player performances, tournament coverage and stories that go beyond the headlines. He is particularly passionate about cricket, tactical analysis and delivering accurate, well-researched sports content.
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