ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 Groups: Group A, Group B & Qualification Format
The ICC Cricket World Cup 2027 groups are now official. Twelve teams will compete in the main Group Stage, divided into two groups of six, after the opening Super Series decides the final place in the main competition.
Group A contains India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A. Group B features New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
The ICC confirmed the groups alongside the full World Cup schedule on 1 October 2026. The Group Stage begins on 7 October 2027 with India facing defending champions Australia in Cape Town and continues until Zimbabwe meet India in Victoria Falls on 24 October.
Seven of the 12 Group Stage teams will advance to the Super 7. The top three teams from each group qualify, while one additional place goes to the better fourth-placed team across Group A and Group B.
ICC World Cup 2027 Groups
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| India | New Zealand |
| Australia | South Africa |
| Pakistan | Sri Lanka |
| Afghanistan | England |
| Zimbabwe | Bangladesh |
| Qualifier A | Qualifier B |
Ten countries in the two groups are already known. The remaining two places will be filled after the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier and the three-team Super Series.
India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England and Bangladesh qualified through the ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings at the 30 September 2026 cut-off. South Africa and Zimbabwe qualified automatically as Full Member hosts. Four more teams will reach the World Cup through the Qualifier, although only two of those four ultimately enter the main Group Stage.
World Cup 2027 Group A
Group A brings together India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
| Team | Group Status | Current Stage |
|---|---|---|
| India | Confirmed | Group A |
| Australia | Confirmed | Group A |
| Pakistan | Confirmed | Group A |
| Afghanistan | Confirmed | Group A |
| Zimbabwe | Confirmed host | Group A |
| Qualifier A | To be decided | Group A |
The group begins with one of the tournament's biggest matches. Australia and India meet at Newlands in Cape Town on 7 October in a rematch of the 2023 Cricket World Cup final.
Pakistan start their Group A campaign against Afghanistan in Tshwane on 8 October before facing India at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on 10 October.
Co-host Zimbabwe play their first group match against Qualifier A in Bulawayo on 9 October. Their home campaign later includes matches against Afghanistan, Australia and Pakistan before Zimbabwe face India in Victoria Falls on 24 October. That match will close the entire Group Stage.
What makes Group A important?
Three of the ICC's pre-seeded Super 7 teams come from Group A.
India have been assigned the A1 scheduling position, Australia A2 and Pakistan A3. These labels help determine potential Super 7 venues and fixtures if the teams qualify.
They do not mean India are guaranteed to finish first, Australia second or Pakistan third in the actual Group A points table.
Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A remain fully capable of finishing in a qualifying position. If a non-seeded team qualifies while one of the seeded sides does not, the qualifying team takes the Super 7 schedule position of the team it replaces.
This distinction matters because the seed labels are designed for fixture planning rather than determining sporting results in advance.
World Cup 2027 Group B
Group B contains New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
| Team | Group Status | Current Stage |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Confirmed | Group B |
| South Africa | Confirmed host | Group B |
| Sri Lanka | Confirmed | Group B |
| England | Confirmed | Group B |
| Bangladesh | Confirmed | Group B |
| Qualifier B | To be decided | Group B |
England and Bangladesh are scheduled to begin Group B action in Windhoek on 8 October.
South Africa open their home World Cup campaign against New Zealand in Cape Town on 9 October according to the ICC's complete fixture list. Sri Lanka begin against Qualifier B in Windhoek on 10 October.
Group B also includes several later fixtures that could become important in deciding the top three positions, including South Africa against England, New Zealand against Sri Lanka, South Africa against Sri Lanka and England against New Zealand.
New Zealand, South Africa and Sri Lanka have been given the B1, B2 and B3 Super 7 scheduling positions respectively.
England has a slightly different designation, AB4. This is the pre-seeded position associated with the seventh team progressing from the Group Stage. Again, the designation does not mean England have already qualified or that England must finish fourth.
Actual qualification will be decided on the field.
How the World Cup 2027 Group Stage Works
The main Group Stage contains 12 teams and 30 matches.
Each group has six teams. Every team plays the other five sides in its group once, so each country has five Group Stage fixtures.
| Group Stage Detail | Format |
|---|---|
| Groups | 2 |
| Teams per group | 6 |
| Matches per team | 5 |
| Matches per group | 15 |
| Total Group Stage matches | 30 |
| Direct qualifiers from Group A | Top 3 |
| Direct qualifiers from Group B | Top 3 |
| Additional Super 7 qualifier | Better fourth-placed team |
| Total teams reaching Super 7 | 7 |
There is no quarter-final immediately after the groups.
Instead, the seven surviving teams move into another complete round-robin phase called the Super 7.
That structure is a major change from the format originally planned for the 2027 World Cup. The ICC confirmed the revised three-stage system in July 2026, expanding the competition to 57 matches.
How Do Teams Qualify from Group A and Group B?
The first six Super 7 places are straightforward.
The top three teams in Group A qualify.
The top three teams in Group B qualify.
The final place requires a comparison between the teams finishing fourth in the two groups.
The ICC's schedule announcement states that the fourth-placed team with more points than the fourth-placed team in the other group will progress to the Super 7.
For example, if the fourth-placed team in Group A finishes with six points and the fourth-placed team in Group B finishes with four, the Group A team takes the seventh place.
If both fourth-placed teams finish level on points, the detailed tournament Playing Conditions will determine the applicable tie-break procedure. The initial schedule announcement does not set out that full tie-break sequence.
This fourth-place rule means finishing outside the top three does not automatically end a team's tournament.
Who Are Qualifier A and Qualifier B?
Qualifier A and Qualifier B are placeholders for the two remaining teams that will reach the main Group Stage through the final qualification process.
Four World Cup places remain available through the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
The team finishing first in that Qualifier moves directly into the Group Stage.
The teams finishing second, third and fourth then travel to Windhoek for the Super Series on 2, 4 and 6 October 2027.
Those three teams play one another once. Only the team finishing first in the Super Series advances.
The result is two additional Group Stage teams:
- The direct entrant from the World Cup Qualifier
- The winner of the Super Series
The ICC currently identifies the two Group Stage positions simply as Qualifier A and Qualifier B. Their country names will replace those placeholders once the qualification process has been completed.
What Happens After the Groups?
The Group Stage finishes on 24 October.
Seven teams then move into the Super 7, which starts the following day and runs until 14 November.
Unlike some previous ICC tournament formats, teams do not carry their Group Stage points into the Super 7.
All seven teams begin the new stage from zero and play every other Super 7 team once, giving each side six additional matches.
The top four teams in the Super 7 standings qualify for the semi-finals. First place plays fourth, while second faces third.
This reset makes Group A and Group B primarily about survival and qualification. A team does not receive a points advantage in the Super 7 simply because it dominated its original group.
World Cup 2027 Super 7 Seed Positions
The ICC has announced seven pre-seeded positions to help teams and supporters understand potential fixtures and travel routes.
| Seed | Pre-seeded Team |
|---|---|
| A1 | India |
| A2 | Australia |
| A3 | Pakistan |
| B1 | New Zealand |
| B2 | South Africa |
| B3 | Sri Lanka |
| AB4 | England |
These should not be confused with confirmed final standings.
If Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, one of the qualifiers or another non-seeded team earns a Super 7 place at the expense of a seeded team, it assumes the displaced team's schedule position.
For example, the ICC explains that if Bangladesh qualify and Sri Lanka do not, Bangladesh would take Sri Lanka's B3 Super 7 position.
When Does the World Cup 2027 Group Stage Begin?
The first Group Stage match is India vs Australia in Cape Town on Thursday, 7 October 2027.
The stage runs for 18 days and concludes with Zimbabwe vs India at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls on Sunday, 24 October.
Thirty matches will be played during that period across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many groups are there in the Cricket World Cup 2027?
There are two main groups, Group A and Group B. Each contains six teams.
Which teams are in World Cup 2027 Group A?
Group A contains India, Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and Qualifier A.
Which teams are in World Cup 2027 Group B?
Group B contains New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and Qualifier B.
How many teams qualify from each group?
The top three teams from each group qualify directly for the Super 7. The better fourth-placed team across Group A and Group B also advances, creating seven Super 7 teams.
Are Qualifier A and Qualifier B confirmed?
No. Their identities will be known after the 2027 Cricket World Cup Qualifier and Super Series.
Do group points carry forward to the Super 7?
No. The seven qualifying teams begin the Super 7 with no Group Stage points carried forward.
Are India, Australia and Pakistan guaranteed the top three places in Group A?
No. A1, A2 and A3 are pre-seeded schedule positions, not guaranteed finishing positions. Every team still has to qualify through its Group Stage results.
When does the Group Stage end?
The final group match is Zimbabwe vs India in Victoria Falls on 24 October 2027. The Super 7 begins on 25 October.