The International Cricket Council (ICC) has released the fixture schedule for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup, with South Africa set to play its opening match against New Zealand in Cape Town on 9 October.

The tournament will run from 2 October to 21 November 2027 across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia, marking the first Men's Cricket World Cup hosted in Africa since 2003.

Fourteen teams will compete in the tournament. Twelve will enter the main group stage directly, while three teams will first compete in a qualifying series in Windhoek from 2 to 6 October for the final group-stage positions.

South Africa has been drawn in Group B alongside New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and one of the qualifiers.

After opening against New Zealand at Newlands, the Proteas will face one of the qualifiers in Paarl on 13 October before meeting England in Gqeberha on 16 October.

They then face Bangladesh in Durban on 19 October and Sri Lanka in Johannesburg on 22 October.

Group A contains India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and the other qualifier. That group stage begins on 7 October with a rematch of the 2023 World Cup final between India and defending champions Australia in Cape Town.

One of the tournament's biggest fixtures will follow three days later, when India and Pakistan meet in Johannesburg on 10 October.

The top three sides from each group will advance to a new Super 7 stage, joined by the better-performing fourth-placed team from the two groups.

All seven teams will begin the Super 7 stage on zero points and play six matches each between 25 October and 14 November. The top four will then advance to the semi-finals.

The first semi-final will be played in Cape Town on 17 November, with the second in Centurion on 18 November.

Johannesburg will host the World Cup final on 21 November.

Eight South African cities will stage matches during the tournament: Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Centurion, Bloemfontein, Durban, Gqeberha, and KuGompo City.

Other matches will also be held in Windhoek in Namibia, Harare, Bulawayo, and at a new stadium at Victoria Falls.