Johannesburg to host 2027 Cricket World Cup final and India-Pakistan clash

By the Editorial Team · Sunday, October 4, 2026

Johannesburg will host both the final and the high-profile India-Pakistan match during the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which will be held across 12 venues in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. This allocation underscores Southern Africa's expanding role in international cricket and sets the stage for a highly competitive tournament featuring 12 teams split into two groups with qualifiers decided through preliminary tournaments.

Johannesburg has been selected to host both the final match and the high-profile India-Pakistan game during the 2027 Cricket World Cup, the International Cricket Council (ICC) announced Thursday. The tournament will take place across 12 venues in South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

The India-Pakistan clash is slated for October 10 at Johannesburg, which will also stage the World Cup final on November 21. The competition features 12 national teams divided into two groups. Group A consists of defending champions Australia, along with India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and a yet-to-be-determined qualifier. Group B includes New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and another qualifier.

The two qualifiers will be decided through a preliminary 10-team tournament scheduled for early 2027. The winner of this event will directly enter the World Cup group stage, while the losing finalist and the two losing semifinalists will compete in the Super Series hosted by Namibia. The winner of that series will claim the second qualifier spot.

The tournament is set to begin on October 7 at Newlands in Cape Town, featuring a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final, with Australia taking on India. Newlands, renowned for its scenic mountain backdrop, will also host a semifinal on November 17. The other semifinal will take place the following day at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

This marks a significant distribution of the World Cup matches across Southern Africa, highlighting the region's growing prominence in international cricket. The upcoming tournament promises to deliver competitive matches, highlighted by longstanding rivalries and key fixtures at iconic venues.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.