Global interest in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 is reaching unprecedented heights, with total ticket requests surpassing the 120 million mark as of November 1. Specifically, 120,809,467 ticket applications have been submitted ahead of the ballot deadline.
Over 2.8 million unique fans hailing from 193 countries have registered to participate in the ticket ballot for the 14th edition of ODI cricket’s premier global tournament. With less than 20 days remaining before the ballot closes on November 21, over 32 million individual match registrations have already been logged, demonstrating that interest is widespread and not confined solely to marquee matchups or specific teams.
On Monday morning, registrations were led by fans from South Africa, the United Kingdom, India, the United States, and Australia. The African continent, including co-hosts Zimbabwe and Namibia, contributed significantly, accumulating over 14.9 million ticket applications (14,936,708) from the region.
South Africa, hosting 41 fixtures across eight venues, has seen more than 105 million applications. Matches involving the Proteas across 11 fixtures (including the pre-seeded Super 7 matches) have garnered nearly 26 million ticket requests.
In Zimbabwe, the total ticket request tally has crossed 13 million (13,350,190). The standout group match in the country is the Zimbabwe versus India clash on October 24 at the newly built Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls, which alone has attracted over 3.3 million requests.
Namibia’s six fixtures at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek have generated over 2 million ticket requests, with nearly 900,000 of those focused on the England versus Bangladesh match on October 8.
The highly anticipated October 10 clash between India and Pakistan in Johannesburg has already drawn over 8.3 million ticket applications (8,397,294). The tournament Final, scheduled for November 21 in the same city, is close behind with nearly 8 million requests (7,900,944).
“The response to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 has been outstanding. This level of demand reflects the global appeal of the tournament and the significance of bringing the Men’s Cricket World Cup back to Africa for the first time in 24 years. The strong interest across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia proves the scale of the opportunity to deliver a world-class event that connects fans across the continent and around the world,” Gaurav Saxena, ICC General Manager – Events and Cricket Operations, said.
“With just 19 days remaining before the ballot closes on 21 November, we encourage fans who have not yet registered to do so and secure their opportunity to be part of this historic edition of the tournament,” Saxena added.
“The extraordinary demand for tickets is a powerful indication of the excitement surrounding the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 and the opportunity it presents for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. With just under 15 million ticket applications from across Africa, alongside strong interest from fans around the world, the tournament is already bringing people together in anticipation of what will be an unforgettable event for our region,” Qondisa Ngwenya, ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 LOC CEO.
“Beyond the cricket, this is an opportunity to showcase the people, cultures and hospitality of our three nations to a global audience and create lasting memories for fans, communities and visitors alike,” Ngwenya added.
Why it matters
The tournament marks a historic milestone, returning to Africa for the first time in 24 years. A total of 57 matches will be played across 12 venues in October and November 2027, with South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia joining forces to host a world-class tournament for the African continent, focusing on accessibility and inclusivity for all cricket enthusiasts.
This edition will feature historic milestones, including Namibia staging Men’s Cricket World Cup matches for the first time, and Zimbabwe showcasing its spectacular new stadium at Victoria Falls. The tournament invites visitors to come for the cricket and stay for the culture, spotlighting the rich cultural heritage and hospitality of Southern Africa.
How the ballot works:
-
Entry into the ticket ballot is free and does not require payment at the point of registration.
-
Fans can submit one ballot entry per person, per match, and may enter the ballot for multiple matches across the tournament.
-
The ballot is not first-come, first-served, meaning fans have the opportunity to enter at any point during the ballot window without their chances being determined by how early they register.
-
Where demand for a fixture exceeds the available ticket allocation, access to purchase tickets will be determined through a randomised ballot process. Successful applicants will be contacted by email with information on how to access the ticket purchasing process.
-
Successful and unsuccessful ballot applications will be communicated via the email address that customers share during ballot registration.
