Australia have won six of the thirteen men's World Cups, and the last time the tournament came to South Africa, they won that one too: Ricky Ponting's side beat India in the 2003 final at the Wanderers. They begin the defence of their 2023 title at Newlands on Thursday 7 October 2027, against the same India team they beat in Ahmedabad.
As holders, Australia carry the A2 seed into the Super 7. This guide covers their five group games, the six A2 fixtures that follow if they qualify, and the grounds in between.
Australia at a glance
- Group A: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, Qualifier A
- First match: Thursday 7 October v India at Newlands, Cape Town
- Super 7 slot: A2, if they qualify
- Most-visited venues: Paarl twice in the group, Victoria Falls twice in the Super 7
- World Cup titles: 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2023
Group stage
The opener against India is the obvious headline, but Australia's group has a quieter feature too. Two of their five games are in Paarl, against Qualifier A on 12 October and Pakistan on 22 October, and only one, Zimbabwe in Harare, is on the highveld. Afghanistan in KuGompo City (formerly East London) on 18 October is a reminder of 2023, when Afghanistan had Australia in serious trouble in Mumbai before Glenn Maxwell's 201 not out turned the game.
If Australia reach the Super 7: the A2 path
Australia have the shortest turnaround into the second round. Their last group game is in Paarl on 22 October, and they open the Super 7 three days later against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers, the first match of the stage. The middle of the run takes them to Victoria Falls twice, for India on 28 October and New Zealand on 1 November, before England in Durban, South Africa in Gqeberha and Pakistan in Bloemfontein on 13 November.
Semi-finals and the final
First plays fourth and second plays third after the Super 7. The semi-finals are at Newlands on 17 November and SuperSport Park on 18 November, both with a reserve day, and the final is at the Wanderers on 21 November, the ground where Australia won the 2003 final.
Australia's venue guide
Newlands, Cape Town
India on 7 October to open the tournament proper. Coastal, with Table Mountain as the backdrop.
Paarl
Two group games, against Qualifier A and Pakistan. Paarl is inland in the Western Cape winelands, about an hour from Cape Town.
Harare and KuGompo City
Zimbabwe at home in Harare on 15 October, on the highveld, then Afghanistan on the Eastern Cape coast at KuGompo City three days later.
Victoria Falls
Two Super 7 games at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium, against India and New Zealand.
Wanderers, Durban, Gqeberha and Bloemfontein
The rest of the A2 path. The Wanderers is South Africa's biggest ground and hosts the final; Durban and Gqeberha are coastal; Bloemfontein is on the highveld.
Can Australia win it again?
No team has a better World Cup record, and no team has shown more clearly that a bad start is survivable. In 2023 Australia lost their first two games, to India and South Africa, then won nine in a row to take the title. The new format makes that resilience even more useful: the Super 7 starts everyone on zero points, so the group stage only has to get them through, not set them up.
Squads are a year away. What the fixtures show is a group with little highveld cricket and a Super 7 that mixes Victoria Falls, the coast and the Free State, so Australia will see most of the tournament's conditions before the knockouts.
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Frequently asked questions
When is Australia's first match at the 2027 World Cup?
Thursday 7 October 2027 against India at Newlands in Cape Town, a rematch of the 2023 final.
When do Australia play India at the 2027 World Cup?
In Group A on 7 October at Newlands. If both reach the Super 7, A1 (India) plays A2 (Australia) again on 28 October at Victoria Falls.
How many World Cups have Australia won?
Six: 1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015 and 2023. The 2003 title was won in the final at the Wanderers, which also hosts the 2027 final.
Where will Australia play at the 2027 World Cup?
Group games in Cape Town, Paarl (twice), Harare and KuGompo City. The A2 Super 7 path adds Johannesburg, Victoria Falls (twice), Durban, Gqeberha and Bloemfontein.