Cricket World Cup 2027: 12 venues announced as tournament returns to Africa after 24 years
New Delhi: Cricket’s biggest 50-over tournament is heading back to Africa after nearly a quarter of a century. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially confirmed the 12 venues that will host the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The announcement also introduced a new tournament format and revealed the event’s official theme inspired by the African philosophy of Ubuntu.
South Africa will host the majority of the matches across eight stadiums including Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, Centurion in Tshwane, Newlands in Cape Town, Kingsmead in Durban, St George’s Park in Gqeberha, Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, Boland Park in Paarl and Buffalo Park in KuGompo City. Zimbabwe will stage matches at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and Fale Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls. Meanwhile, the third host, Namibia, will make its World Cup hosting debut with matches at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Chairman – International Cricket Council (ICC) tweets – “It’s exciting to announce the 12 venues across three nations and a new brand for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027. The unveiling signals the start of a journey that will unite fans around the world and build… pic.twitter.com/zDXVNPpAAp
— ANI (@ANI) July 30, 2026
Africa comes together under spirit of ‘Ubuntu’
The 2027 tournament will be built around the African philosophy of Ubuntu, meaning “I am, because we are.” The campaign carries the tagline “Three Nations, One Heartbeat”, highlighting unity, shared values and the coming together of three countries to host one of cricket’s biggest events.
According to the organisers, the tournament identity also celebrates the region’s 29 officially recognised languages and cultures. The official logo is inspired by the traditional African wire bowl while the colour palette includes shades such as Zimbabwe Chilli, African Root, Fynbos Pop, Namib Dune, Harare Dawn and Two Oceans.
New format to feature 57 matches
The ICC has also introduced a new three-stage competition format for the 2027 edition. Teams ranked 12th to 14th will first compete in a Super Series with the winner progressing to the main event.
The main tournament will then feature 12 teams before moving into the Super 7 stage, where the top-performing sides will battle for places in the semi-finals. The tournament will conclude with the final after a total of 57 matches. Fans can find more details including schedules and ticket updates on the ICC’s official website as preparations for the World Cup continue.