Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls have officially been confirmed among the 12 host cities for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, with Zimbabwe set to co-host the world’s biggest One-Day International tournament alongside South Africa and Namibia.
The announcement was made at a spectacular ceremony in Johannesburg on Thursday night, where the International Cricket Council (ICC) unveiled the tournament’s host cities and venues, as well as its official brand.
Matches in Zimbabwe will be staged at Harare Sports Club, Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo and the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, placing the country firmly at the heart of a global sporting spectacle that returns to Africa for the first time in 24 years.
South Africa will host matches at Wanderers Stadium (Johannesburg), Centurion (Tshwane), Newlands Cricket Ground (Cape Town), Kingsmead Cricket Ground (Durban),
St George’s Park (Gqeberha), Mangaung Oval (Bloemfontein), Boland Park (Paarl) and Buffalo Park (KuGompo City), while Namibia’s capital, Windhoek, will stage fixtures at the Namibia Cricket Ground.
The 2027 edition will feature 57 matches involving the world’s top 14 teams and will be played under a new three-stage competition format designed to deliver greater context, competitiveness and consequence throughout the tournament.
The event also marks another historic milestone for Zimbabwe, which previously co-hosted the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2003 alongside South Africa and Kenya.
Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani welcomed the announcement, describing it as a proud moment for the country and an important step in preparations for the global showpiece.
“This marks another significant milestone on our journey towards hosting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027,” he said.
“Having Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls confirmed as host cities is a tremendous honour for Zimbabwe and a vote of confidence in our ability to stage world-class international cricket events.
“This tournament presents a unique opportunity not only to showcase our cricket but also Zimbabwe’s people, culture, hospitality and breathtaking tourism destinations to a global audience.
“Together with our partners in South Africa and Namibia, we look forward to delivering an unforgettable Cricket World Cup that reflects the spirit of our continent.”
ZC Managing Director Givemore Makoni added that the announcement represented the culmination of years of planning and collaboration.
“The confirmation of our three host venues is an exciting moment for everyone who has worked tirelessly behind the scenes to bring this event to life,” he said.
“Preparations have been progressing well, and this announcement gives us even greater momentum as we continue working closely with the ICC and our fellow hosts to ensure every aspect of the tournament meets the highest international standards.
“Beyond the cricket itself, we see the World Cup as an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy through infrastructure development, tourism, economic activity and inspiring the next generation of Zimbabwean cricketers.”
The ICC has adopted “Three Nations, One Heartbeat” as the tournament brand, celebrating the shared optimism, diversity and sense of community across the three host countries.
Inspired by the African philosophy of Ubuntu – “I am, because we are” – the tournament will embrace the theme “Make the Circle Bigger”, highlighting unity, inclusion and the power of cricket to bring people together across cultures and borders.
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will be the 14th edition of the sport’s flagship 50-over tournament and will return the event to African soil for the first time since 2003.
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