Rematch To Kick Off 2027 Cricket World Cup: Final Slated For Johannesburg In Nov

The path to the 2027 Cricket World Cup trophy has been revealed a little over 12 months out from the tournament, with India and Australia to get things under way in a repeat of the 2023 decider and the final to be played in Johannesburg on November 21 next year. 

The tournament fixtures were announced in Cape Town on Thursday evening, including a blockbuster clash between India and Pakistan in Johannesburg that will no doubt be played in an atmosphere bristling with nerves and passion. 

The Wanderers, affectionately known as the ‘Bullring’, will also stage the final, with Cape Town given the right to host the tournament opener on October 7 between India and Australia. 

South Africa open their campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town two days later and have a tough pool that also includes Bangladesh, England, Sri Lanka and an as-yet-unknown qualifier, which could be the West Indies. 

The top three teams in each pool advance to the Super 7 phase, along with the best fourth-placed team across the two pools. 

Aside from India, Australia and Pakistan, Group A also consists of Afghanistan, co-hosts Zimbabwe and another qualifier. 

While South Africa and Zimbabwe were handed tickets straight to the pool phase of the tournament, co-hosts Namibia have been made to qualify and there is no certainty they will do so. 

We could therefore see matches in Namibia but no national team at the tournament, which would be a first in World Cup history. 

According to an economic impact study commissioned by Cricket South Africa when it was bidding for the tournament, the World Cup is expected to add around R15 billion ($900 million) to the country’s GDP and lead to 27,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

Zimbabwe has been gearing up for the tournament by improving facilities in Harare and Bulawayo, and has also built a new venue in Victoria Falls.