In 2003 England declined to travel to Harare for their World Cup match against Zimbabwe, citing safety concerns, and forfeited the points. In 2027 they are going back to Harare, for Qualifier B on 20 October, and it is just one stop on the most varied itinerary of any confirmed team.
England are the only named team whose group games take them to all three host countries: Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. And if they reach the Super 7, the AB4 slot gives them a game every three days. Here is the whole route.
England at a glance
- Group B: New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Qualifier B
- First match: Friday 8 October v Bangladesh at the Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
- Group venues: Windhoek (twice), Gqeberha (twice), Harare
- Super 7 slot: AB4, if they qualify
- World Cup title: 2019
Group stage: three countries in sixteen days
England start in Namibia with two of the three group games played in Windhoek: Bangladesh on 8 October, then Sri Lanka on 13 October, the last match at the Namibia Cricket Ground. They move to the Eastern Cape coast for the hosts in Gqeberha on 16 October, fly north to Harare for Qualifier B, and come back to Gqeberha for New Zealand on 23 October, a rematch of the 2019 final.
If England reach the Super 7: the AB4 path
AB4 is the slot set aside for the better of the two fourth-placed teams, but the ICC has pre-seeded England into it. If England qualify, they play these six games. The spacing is the tightest in the Super 7: exactly three days between every match, from South Africa at SuperSport Park on 27 October to India in Gqeberha on 11 November. Four of the six are on the coast, including back-to-back games in Durban against Australia and New Zealand.
Semi-finals and the final
First plays fourth and second plays third. The semi-finals are at Newlands on 17 November and SuperSport Park on 18 November, each with a reserve day, and the final is at the Wanderers on 21 November.
England's venue guide
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Windhoek also stages all three Super Series matches before the main event begins.
Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth)
Two group games, South Africa and New Zealand, and the AB4 meeting with India on 11 November. If England qualify, no ground sees them more.
Harare
Qualifier B on 20 October. The return to the city England stayed away from in 2003.
Tshwane, Victoria Falls, Cape Town and Durban
The rest of the AB4 path: SuperSport Park, the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium, Newlands, and two games in Durban.
Can England win it?
England won the World Cup in 2019, beating New Zealand at Lord's on boundary count after a tied Super Over, then won only three of nine games in India in 2023. The 2027 draw asks a lot of travel early and offers no let-up later: the AB4 path never has more than three days between games. A deep squad matters more for England than for most.
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Open England's schedulePlay the World Cup on CricketDream
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Frequently asked questions
When is England's first match at the 2027 World Cup?
Friday 8 October 2027 against Bangladesh at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.
Are England playing in Zimbabwe at the 2027 World Cup?
Yes. England play Qualifier B in Harare on 20 October, and if they reach the Super 7 they play Pakistan at Victoria Falls on 30 October. In 2003 England forfeited their World Cup match in Harare.
What does AB4 mean for England?
AB4 is the Super 7 slot for the better fourth-placed team across the two groups. The ICC has pre-seeded England into it, so if England qualify they play the six AB4 fixtures. If they do not, the team that qualifies in their place takes those fixtures.
When do England play New Zealand at the 2027 World Cup?
Saturday 23 October in Gqeberha, in Group B. If both reach the Super 7, they meet again in Durban on 8 November.