Sri Lanka will begin their ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027 campaign against Qualifier-B in Windhoek, Namibia, on October 10, as part of a 57-match schedule unveiled by the International Cricket Council.
The 14-team tournament, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, runs from October 2 to November 21, 2027, under the banner "Three Nations, One Heartbeat". It marks the World Cup's return to Africa for the first time since 2003.
The schedule was revealed at a ceremony at the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa in Cape Town, alongside the opening of a public ticket ballot.
Defending champions Australia will face 2023 finalists India in the tournament's marquee early fixture, at Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town on October 7. South Africa open their campaign against New Zealand in Centurion the following day, while England meet Bangladesh in Windhoek on the same date.
India will also play Pakistan at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on October 10, the same day Sri Lanka take the field in Windhoek.
Co-host Zimbabwe return to the Men's Cricket World Cup for the first time in 12 years, opening against Qualifier-A at Queen's Sports Club in Bulawayo on October 9. Zimbabwe will later host India at Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium in Victoria Falls.
Sri Lanka have been placed in Group B for the group stage alongside New Zealand, South Africa, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier-B. The side has been pre-seeded into position B3 for the Super 7 stage that follows.
The tournament format features three preliminary rounds before the knockouts: a three-match Super Series, a 30-match group stage and a 21-match Super 7 phase. Semi-finals are scheduled for Cape Town on November 17 and Centurion on November 18, with the final in Johannesburg on November 21.
ICC chairman Jay Shah said the schedule release and ticket ballot opening were "major milestones on the road to the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027, bringing fans one step closer to a spectacular celebration of cricket across the three nations."
Shah said the three host nations would provide "an unforgettable stage for the world's best teams, combining a deep passion for cricket, extraordinary destinations and a renowned warmth of welcome."
Trevor Manuel, independent chairperson of the tournament's Local Organising Committee board, said South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia were "ready to welcome the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup and supporters from around the world back to our continent."
Ten teams had secured direct qualification as of the September 30, 2026 cutoff, including hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe. The remaining four places will be decided through the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.
Matches will be played across 12 venues, spanning Johannesburg, Centurion, Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein, Paarl and KuGompo City in South Africa, Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and Windhoek in Namibia. It will be Namibia's first time hosting matches at a senior men's World Cup.
The ticket ballot, which opened on October 1 at tickets.cricketworldcup.com, is free to enter with no payment required at registration. Prices range from about USD $9.50 for entry-level tickets to around USD $30 for the highest-tier matches. The ballot closes at 23:59 South African time on November 21, 2026.