At the 2023 World Cup Afghanistan beat England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, and had Australia in deep trouble in Mumbai until Glenn Maxwell's 201 not out. A year later they reached the semi-finals of the 2024 T20 World Cup. They qualified for 2027 directly, on the ODI rankings.
What they did not get is a Super 7 seed. Afghanistan and Bangladesh are the two top-eight teams without one, so Afghanistan's route to the second round is to finish in the top three of Group A, or as the better fourth-placed side, and take over a seeded team's slot.
Afghanistan at a glance
- Group A: India, Australia, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Qualifier A
- First match: Friday 8 October v Pakistan at SuperSport Park, Tshwane
- Super 7 seed: none. They need to displace a seeded team
- Venues: Tshwane (twice), Bulawayo, KuGompo City (twice)
Group stage
Afghanistan play both subcontinent heavyweights at the same ground: Pakistan on 8 October and India on 14 October, both at SuperSport Park. In between they go to Bulawayo for co-hosts Zimbabwe. The group finishes with two games in KuGompo City (formerly East London), Australia on 18 October and Qualifier A on 21 October.
How Afghanistan get into the Super 7
Group A's seeds are India (A1), Australia (A2) and Pakistan (A3). If Afghanistan qualify and one of those three does not, Afghanistan inherit the missing team's slot and its six fixtures. Beating Pakistan in the opener, as they did in Chennai in 2023, would put that race in play from the first weekend.
As an example, if Afghanistan were to replace Pakistan, these would be their Super 7 games:
Semi-finals and the final
Afghanistan have never reached a 50-over World Cup semi-final. The 2027 semi-finals are at Newlands on 17 November and SuperSport Park on 18 November, with reserve days, and the final is at the Wanderers on 21 November.
Afghanistan's venue guide
SuperSport Park, Tshwane (Centurion)
Pakistan and India, the two biggest games of their group, both on the highveld.
Bulawayo
Zimbabwe at home on 11 October, the co-hosts' second game.
KuGompo City
Australia and Qualifier A to finish the group, on the Eastern Cape coast.
Can Afghanistan do it?
Winning the tournament would be a leap; reaching the Super 7 is a realistic target. Their draw puts the two hardest-to-call games, Pakistan and Zimbabwe, in the first four days, and finishes with Qualifier A, the kind of fixture that can decide a fourth-place race.
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Open Afghanistan's schedulePlay the World Cup on CricketDream
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Frequently asked questions
When is Afghanistan's first match at the 2027 World Cup?
Friday 8 October 2027 against Pakistan at SuperSport Park in Tshwane (Centurion).
Are Afghanistan seeded for the Super 7?
No. To reach the Super 7 they must finish in the top three of Group A, or as the better fourth-placed team, and they then take the slot of a seeded team that missed out.
When do Afghanistan play India at the 2027 World Cup?
Thursday 14 October 2027 at SuperSport Park in Tshwane, in Group A.
How did Afghanistan do at the 2023 World Cup?
They won four games, beating England, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and the Netherlands, and came close to beating Australia.