The 14-team tournament will kick off on October 2, 2027, and conclude with the final on November 21, 2027.
Even though there is around a year remaining for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, former Australian skipper Aaron Finch has made his early semifinal predictions at the quadrennial event.
Finch’s list includes India, Australia, and England. His omission of New Zealand and Pakistan raised eyebrows, given both teams possess robust tracking records in major ICC tournaments.
Finch opted for South Africa as his final pick, highlighting the co-host nation’s strong familiarity with local pace and bounce conditions.
The showpiece event is slated to be held across 12 venues in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
“India. I think the way England are playing their cricket at the moment under Harry Brook, I think they have got a side that’s got the ability to play spin really well through the middle overs and they’re quite aggressive and destructive. Harry Brook arguably one of the best player in the world in that format. South Africa – in their home conditions, I think they have a lot of basis covered. They have a got great quicks, very very good spin, their batting has got a great mix of youth and experience so they have got that freedom as well. So that’ll be dangerous and of course Australia," Finch said during the official tournament fixture launch event in Cape Town.
Earlier this month, the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the schedule for the upcoming ODI World Cup during a grand launch event in Cape Town.
The 14-team competition will kick off on October 2, 2027, and conclude with the final on November 21, 2027.
10 of the 14 participating nations have secured direct qualification based on the September 30 cut-off date. South Africa and Zimbabwe received automatic entry being the hosts, and are joined by top-ranked ODI teams -- India, Australia, England, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.
The remaining four slots will be decided through a multi-team global qualifier to be played early next year, with two-time champion West Indies set to feature in it and aim to qualify for the marquee event.
The groups for the next year’s World Cup place India, Pakistan, Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and Qualifier A in Group A, while Group B features South Africa, England, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Qualifier B.
The tournament will feature four different stages -- a preliminary Super Series, a Group round split into two groups, a Super 7 round, and the Knockouts.
In Round 1, the three lowest-ranked qualified teams will play a Super Series, and only the top side will qualify for Round 2, where there would be two groups of 6. Top three teams from each group plus the next-highest-placed team overall will make it to the Super 7, while the top four teams from the Super 7 will progress to the semi-finals.
The first semifinal will be played in Cape Town on November 17, while Tshwane will host the second semifinal on November 18. The title clash will take place in Johannesburg.