ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Teams: Qualified Teams, Groups and World Cup History
The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 will feature 14 teams competing across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from 2 October to 21 November 2027.
Ten teams have already secured direct entry into the tournament. South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified automatically as Full Member hosts, while India, New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, England, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh earned direct qualification through the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the 30 September 2026 cut-off.
Four more teams will qualify through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.
The 2027 edition therefore brings together established World Cup champions, teams still chasing their first title, emerging ODI nations and four sides that must earn their places through the final qualification tournament.
The identities of ten teams are already known, but final World Cup squads have not yet been announced. Player selections, replacements and final squad lists will be confirmed much closer to the start of the tournament.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Qualified Teams
| Team | Qualification Route | 2027 Group | Best ODI World Cup Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| India | ICC ODI Rankings | Group A | Champions, 1983 and 2011 |
| Australia | ICC ODI Rankings | Group A | Champions, six times |
| Pakistan | ICC ODI Rankings | Group A | Champions, 1992 |
| Afghanistan | ICC ODI Rankings | Group A | Sixth place, 2023 |
| Zimbabwe | Full Member Host | Group A | Super Six, 1999 and 2003 |
| New Zealand | ICC ODI Rankings | Group B | Runners-up, 2015 and 2019 |
| South Africa | Full Member Host | Group B | Semi-finals |
| Sri Lanka | ICC ODI Rankings | Group B | Champions, 1996 |
| England | ICC ODI Rankings | Group B | Champions, 2019 |
| Bangladesh | ICC ODI Rankings | Group B | Quarter-finals, 2015 |
| Qualifier 1 | World Cup Qualifier | To be decided | To be decided |
| Qualifier 2 | World Cup Qualifier | To be decided | To be decided |
| Qualifier 3 | World Cup Qualifier | Super Series | To be decided |
| Qualifier 4 | World Cup Qualifier | Super Series | To be decided |
The four qualifier teams will complete the 14-team World Cup field.
However, not all four will immediately enter the main Group Stage. The winner of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier progresses directly to the Group Stage, while the teams finishing second, third and fourth enter the opening Super Series in Windhoek.
Only the top team from that three-team Super Series progresses, leaving 12 teams in the main Group Stage.
World Cup 2027 Group A Teams
Group A contains:
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| India | Qualified |
| Australia | Qualified |
| Pakistan | Qualified |
| Afghanistan | Qualified |
| Zimbabwe | Qualified as host |
| Qualifier A | To be confirmed |
Group A brings together three former World Cup champions in India, Australia and Pakistan.
Afghanistan enter another ODI World Cup after their breakthrough campaign in 2023, while Zimbabwe return to the tournament after missing the 2019 and 2023 editions.
Qualifier A will be confirmed after the final qualification process is completed.
India, Australia and Pakistan have also been given A1, A2 and A3 pre-seeded positions respectively for potential Super 7 scheduling. These are fixture-planning positions and do not guarantee that the teams will finish first, second or third in Group A.
World Cup 2027 Group B Teams
Group B contains:
| Team | Status |
|---|---|
| New Zealand | Qualified |
| South Africa | Qualified as host |
| Sri Lanka | Qualified |
| England | Qualified |
| Bangladesh | Qualified |
| Qualifier B | To be confirmed |
Group B includes two former World Cup champions in Sri Lanka and England.
New Zealand have twice reached the final without lifting the trophy, while South Africa will again pursue their first appearance in an ODI World Cup final, this time with the advantage of playing much of the tournament at home.
New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have B1, B2 and B3 pre-seeded Super 7 positions. England have been allocated the AB4 scheduling position.
As with Group A, those seeds are not automatic qualification places.
India
India enter the 2027 World Cup as one of the most successful countries in the history of ODI cricket.
They have won the Men’s Cricket World Cup twice.
India’s first title came in 1983 when Kapil Dev’s side defeated the dominant West Indies in the final at Lord’s. The victory changed the direction of cricket in India and remains one of the landmark moments in World Cup history.
Their second championship came on home soil in 2011. India defeated Sri Lanka in the final at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, becoming the first team to win the Men’s Cricket World Cup final in its own country.
India have also finished as runners-up twice, losing to Australia in the finals of 2003 and 2023.
The 2023 campaign was particularly dominant until the final. India won all nine league matches and defeated New Zealand in the semi-final before Australia ended their unbeaten run in Ahmedabad.
India have been placed in Group A for 2027 alongside Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Their Group Stage begins with another meeting against defending champions Australia, giving the tournament an immediate rematch of the 2023 final.
Australia
No country has enjoyed greater success in the Men’s Cricket World Cup than Australia.
Australia have won the trophy a record six times:
1987
1999
2003
2007
2015
2023
Their first title came in 1987, followed by three consecutive championships between 1999 and 2007.
Australia added another home-region title in 2015 before winning their sixth championship in India in 2023.
The 2023 campaign showed the resilience that has become closely associated with Australian World Cup teams. After losing their opening two matches, Australia recovered to reach the semi-finals, defeated South Africa and then beat previously unbeaten India in the final.
Travis Head scored 137 in the Ahmedabad final as Australia successfully chased India’s 240.
Australia therefore arrive in 2027 as the defending world champions.
They have been drawn in Group A and will begin their title defence against India in Cape Town.
Pakistan
Pakistan remain one of the most recognisable teams in World Cup cricket and will contest the 2027 tournament through direct qualification.
Their greatest World Cup moment came in 1992.
After a difficult beginning to the tournament, Imran Khan’s Pakistan recovered to reach the knockout stage, defeated New Zealand in the semi-final and beat England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to become world champions.
Pakistan returned to the final in 1999 but were beaten by Australia at Lord’s.
They have also made several other deep World Cup runs, including semi-final appearances in 1979, 1983, 1987 and 2011.
Their 2023 tournament ended in the league stage, with Pakistan finishing fifth and narrowly missing the semi-finals.
For 2027, Pakistan are in Group A with India, Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Their group contains several important rivalries, including meetings with India and Afghanistan as well as a fixture against co-host Zimbabwe.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan’s rise in ODI cricket is one of the most significant developments in recent World Cup history.
Their first Men’s Cricket World Cup appearance came in 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.
Afghanistan recorded their first World Cup victory during that tournament when they defeated Scotland in a dramatic match.
The 2019 edition proved much harder, but Afghanistan returned as a far more competitive ODI side in 2023.
That tournament became their best World Cup campaign to date.
Afghanistan defeated England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, winning four matches and finishing sixth in the league table. They remained in semi-final contention deep into the competition and came close to another famous victory against eventual champions Australia.
Their performance in India established Afghanistan as a genuine competitive force in ODI tournaments rather than simply an emerging participant.
Afghanistan qualified directly for the 2027 World Cup through the ODI rankings and will play in Group A.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe will return to the Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2027 after a 12-year absence from the tournament.
Their previous appearance came in 2015.
Zimbabwe first played at the World Cup in 1983 and immediately produced one of the tournament’s memorable early upsets by defeating Australia in their opening game.
Their most successful World Cup periods came in 1999 and 2003, when Zimbabwe reached the Super Six stage.
The 1999 campaign was particularly impressive. Zimbabwe defeated India by three runs and later beat South Africa by 48 runs to progress beyond the initial phase.
They again reached the Super Six in 2003 when Zimbabwe co-hosted the World Cup with South Africa and Kenya.
Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2019 and 2023 tournaments, making their guaranteed place in 2027 especially significant.
As a Full Member co-host, Zimbabwe qualified automatically and will play all five of their Group A matches within Zimbabwe and South Africa’s wider hosting region, including major home fixtures in Bulawayo, Harare and Victoria Falls.
New Zealand
New Zealand have one of the strongest World Cup records among countries yet to lift the trophy.
They have regularly reached the knockout stages and came closest to becoming world champions in consecutive tournaments.
New Zealand reached their first final in 2015 after defeating South Africa in a dramatic semi-final in Auckland. Australia defeated them in the final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Four years later, New Zealand returned to the final at Lord’s.
The 2019 final against England finished tied after 50 overs and remained tied following the Super Over. England were ultimately awarded the title under the boundary-count rule used at the time.
New Zealand continued their strong World Cup record in 2023 by reaching another semi-final, where they were defeated by India in Mumbai.
Their consistency across different conditions has made New Zealand one of the most regular knockout-stage teams in modern ODI World Cups.
They qualified directly for 2027 and have been placed in Group B alongside South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
South Africa
South Africa will enter the 2027 World Cup as one of the main host nations.
Their World Cup history began in 1992 following their return to international cricket.
South Africa reached the semi-finals in their very first tournament but were eliminated by England after a controversial rain-adjusted target.
Another painful exit followed in 1999 when their semi-final against Australia ended in a tie. Australia progressed because they had finished higher in the preceding Super Six stage.
South Africa went on to reach further semi-finals in 2007 and 2015.
They again qualified for the last four in 2023 after an excellent league campaign, only to lose a tense semi-final against eventual champions Australia.
That means South Africa have repeatedly reached the closing stages without yet appearing in a Men’s Cricket World Cup final.
The 2027 edition provides another opportunity, this time with eight South African venues being used across the tournament.
South Africa qualified automatically as a Full Member host and will compete in Group B.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka are one of the five confirmed 2027 teams to have previously won the ODI World Cup.
Their breakthrough came in 1996.
Led by Arjuna Ranatunga and powered by an aggressive batting approach that changed ODI opening strategy, Sri Lanka went through the tournament unbeaten and defeated Australia in the final in Lahore.
Aravinda de Silva produced one of the finest performances in a World Cup final, taking three wickets before scoring an unbeaten century in Sri Lanka’s successful chase.
Sri Lanka remained a major World Cup force in the following years.
They reached the semi-finals in 2003 and then appeared in back-to-back finals in 2007 and 2011.
Australia defeated Sri Lanka in the 2007 final, while India beat them in Mumbai four years later.
Sri Lanka had to come through the Qualifier to reach the 2023 World Cup, but their improved ranking position has secured direct qualification for 2027.
They have been placed in Group B.
England
England were part of the first Cricket World Cup in 1975 and spent decades coming close before finally becoming champions.
They finished as runners-up in 1979, 1987 and 1992.
Their long wait ended on home soil in 2019.
The final against New Zealand at Lord’s became one of the most dramatic matches in cricket history. The teams finished level after the regular 50 overs and also tied the Super Over.
Under the tournament regulations used at the time, England won through the boundary-count tie-break and lifted the Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time.
England entered the 2023 tournament as defending champions but endured a difficult campaign and finished seventh despite winning their final two matches.
They have nevertheless secured direct qualification for 2027 through the ODI rankings.
England are in Group B alongside New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
They are also the AB4 pre-seeded side for Super 7 scheduling, although they must still earn progression through their Group Stage results.
Bangladesh
Bangladesh will play another Men’s Cricket World Cup after securing direct qualification through the ICC ODI rankings.
Their World Cup story began in 1999.
Bangladesh recorded their first World Cup victory against Scotland and later produced one of the tournament’s biggest surprises by defeating eventual finalists Pakistan by 62 runs.
They progressed beyond the opening phase for the first time in 2007, reaching the Super Eight after a memorable Group Stage victory over India.
Bangladesh improved further in 2015.
Wins over Afghanistan, Scotland and England helped them reach the quarter-finals for the first time, where their tournament ended against India.
That remains their deepest progress in the competition.
Bangladesh also competed in the 2019 and 2023 World Cups. They finished eighth in 2023, which was enough to secure qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy under that tournament’s qualification rules.
For 2027, Bangladesh will compete in Group B.
Four World Cup 2027 Teams Are Still to Be Decided
The complete 14-team list is not yet final.
Four places remain available through the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.
The Qualifier will decide which four countries join the ten direct qualifiers.
Their route into the World Cup then differs depending on where they finish.
| Qualifier Finish | World Cup Route |
|---|---|
| 1st | Directly into Group Stage |
| 2nd | Super Series |
| 3rd | Super Series |
| 4th | Super Series |
The three Super Series teams will play one another once in Windhoek on 2, 4 and 6 October 2027.
Only the team finishing first will move into the Group Stage.
This means all four teams will officially qualify for the 14-team World Cup, but two of them will be eliminated during the opening Super Series before the 12-team Group Stage begins.
Why Namibia Is Not Yet Listed as a Qualified Team
Namibia are a co-host of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, but hosting the event does not automatically give them a place in the competition.
South Africa and Zimbabwe received automatic qualification because they are Full Member hosts.
Namibia must qualify through the normal qualification pathway.
This creates an unusual situation where one of the three host countries is not currently among the confirmed World Cup teams.
Namibia will still host six matches in Windhoek, including all three Super Series fixtures, regardless of whether the national team eventually qualifies.
How Many Teams Advance from the World Cup Groups?
Twelve teams will compete in the main Group Stage.
Each group contains six teams, with every side playing five matches.
The top three teams from Group A and the top three from Group B advance directly to the Super 7.
One additional place goes to the better fourth-placed team across the two groups.
That produces seven Super 7 teams.
All seven begin the Super 7 from zero points and play one another once.
The top four teams in the Super 7 then qualify for the semi-finals.
World Cup Titles Among the Confirmed 2027 Teams
Five of the ten currently confirmed teams have previously won the Men’s Cricket World Cup.
| Team | World Cup Titles |
|---|---|
| Australia | 6 |
| India | 2 |
| Pakistan | 1 |
| Sri Lanka | 1 |
| England | 1 |
| New Zealand | 0 |
| South Africa | 0 |
| Zimbabwe | 0 |
| Bangladesh | 0 |
| Afghanistan | 0 |
Australia lead comfortably with six championships.
India are the only other currently qualified 2027 team with multiple ODI World Cup titles.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and England have each won once.
New Zealand and South Africa have come particularly close without lifting the trophy. New Zealand have lost two finals, while South Africa have reached the semi-finals on multiple occasions without progressing to the final.
Are the World Cup 2027 Squads Announced?
No.
Qualification for the tournament does not mean a country’s final squad has been selected.
The World Cup begins in October 2027, so national selectors still have a long period of ODI cricket, form changes and potential injuries to assess before final squads are submitted.
Official World Cup 2027 squads have not yet been announced. Final squad information will be added after confirmation by the respective national boards and the ICC. Until then, any player lists circulating as World Cup squads should be treated as provisional or unofficial.
Predicted squads should not be presented as official World Cup squads.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams will play in the Cricket World Cup 2027?
Fourteen teams will participate in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027.
Which teams have qualified for the World Cup 2027?
The ten confirmed teams are India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh.
Four additional teams will qualify through the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2027.
Which teams are in Group A?
Group A contains India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Which teams are in Group B?
Group B contains New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
How did India, Pakistan and the other ranking teams qualify?
Eight teams secured direct qualification by being the highest-ranked eligible sides in the ICC Men’s ODI Team Rankings at the 30 September 2026 qualification cut-off.
Why did South Africa and Zimbabwe qualify automatically?
Both are Full Member host nations for the 2027 Cricket World Cup and therefore received automatic qualification.
Is Namibia qualified for World Cup 2027?
Not automatically.
Namibia are a co-host but must qualify through the normal World Cup qualification pathway.
Who are Qualifier A and Qualifier B?
Their identities are not yet known. They will be determined through the 2027 World Cup Qualifier and Super Series.
Which team is defending the World Cup?
Australia are the defending champions after winning the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
Which 2027 team has won the most World Cups?
Australia have won the Men’s Cricket World Cup six times, more than any other country.
Have the World Cup 2027 squads been announced?
No. Final national squads have not yet been announced and should only be treated as official after confirmation from the relevant cricket boards and the ICC.