The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced the 12 host venues for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The tournament will mark the return of the Men’s World Cup to Africa for the first time in 24 years.
The announcement was made during a launch event in Johannesburg, where the tournament’s official brand identity, Three Nations, One Heartbeat, was also unveiled. The theme reflects the unity, cultural diversity and shared passion of the three host nations.
According to the ICC, the 2027 edition will feature 14 teams competing in 57 matches under a newly introduced three-stage format designed to make the tournament more competitive.
Under the new structure, the teams ranked 12th, 13th and 14th in the ICC rankings will first compete in a qualifying Super Series, with the winner advancing to the main tournament.
The main competition will then feature 12 teams divided into two groups of six, with each group playing in a round-robin format. The top three teams from each group, along with the better-performing fourth-placed team across the two groups, will qualify for the Super Seven stage.
The Super Seven stage will consist of 21 matches, after which the top four teams will progress to the semi-finals. The first semi-final will see the first-placed team face the fourth-placed side, while the second semi-final will feature the teams finishing second and third.
ICC Chairman Jay Shah described the announcement of the host cities and tournament branding as a significant milestone in preparations for the 2027 World Cup. He said the tournament’s return to Africa after 24 years represents a historic moment for international cricket and expressed confidence that South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia would jointly deliver a memorable event.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta said the 2027 World Cup would not only be the premier event in one-day international cricket but would also showcase Africa’s culture, hospitality, diversity and passion for the sport to a global audience.
The launch ceremony was attended by several current and former cricketers, including Graeme Smith, Makhaya Ntini, Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Hamilton Masakadza, and Rudolph van Vuuren.
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