Cricket South Africa (CSA) has confirmed the distribution of matches for the 2027 ODI World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Out of 54 matches, South Africa will stage 44 across eight cities: Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, East London, and Paarl. The remaining 10 matches will take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The announcement came alongside the formation of a local organising committee, led by former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel. CSA chairperson Pearl Maphoshe said the board’s vision is “to stage a global, inspiring event that reflects the face of South Africa diverse, inclusive, and united.”
This will be the first men’s Cricket World Cup in Africa since 2003, when South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Kenya co-hosted the tournament. South Africa has hosted two women’s World Cups since then: the 2005 50-over tournament and the 2023 T20 World Cup, where the Proteas lost to Australia in the final.
Preparations for the event have already begun, with the CSA emphasising the aim of showcasing South Africa’s culture and diversity on the global stage. The 2027 ODI World Cup will mark the country’s return to hosting a major ICC event on home soil after 18 years. Since 2009, South Africa has hosted only Under-19 World Cups, with no senior ICC tournaments staged in the country.
The previous men’s ODI World Cup took place in 2023 in India, where Australia defeated the hosts in the final.