New Zealand have played in two World Cup finals and lost both: to Australia at the MCG in 2015, and to England at Lord's in 2019, where even the Super Over was tied and the title went on boundary count. In 2023 they lost the semi-final to India in Mumbai.
Their 2027 road starts at Newlands on Saturday 9 October against the hosts, and if they reach the Super 7 as B1, every one of their six second-round games is at sea level or close to it. Here is the full route.
New Zealand at a glance
- Group B: South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, Qualifier B
- First match: Saturday 9 October v South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town
- Super 7 slot: B1, if they qualify
- World Cup finals: 2015 and 2019 (runners-up both times)
Group stage
After the hosts, New Zealand go to the Eastern Cape coast for Bangladesh in KuGompo City (formerly East London), then up to Harare for Qualifier B on 17 October. The last two group games are the tough ones: Sri Lanka at the Wanderers on 20 October and England in Gqeberha on 23 October, a rematch of the 2019 final.
If New Zealand reach the Super 7: the B1 path
None of the six B1 games is on the highveld. The path runs Gqeberha, KuGompo City, Victoria Falls, Paarl, Durban and Cape Town, ending against South Africa at Newlands on 12 November, the same fixture that opened their tournament. India come in Paarl on 4 November.
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, with reserve days, and the final is at the Wanderers on 21 November.
New Zealand's venue guide
Newlands, Cape Town
South Africa twice: to open the group and to close the B1 path.
KuGompo City and Gqeberha
Two Eastern Cape coastal grounds, each visited once in the group and once in the Super 7.
Harare and Johannesburg
The only highveld cricket on New Zealand's route: Qualifier B in Harare and Sri Lanka at the Wanderers.
Victoria Falls, Paarl and Durban
Super 7 stops: Australia at the new Mosi-oa-Tunya Stadium, India in Paarl and England in Durban.
Can New Zealand finally win it?
Few teams have been closer more often. Two straight finals and a semi-final in the last three tournaments say New Zealand know how to reach the business end. The 2027 schedule is kind in one respect, with three or four days between every Super 7 game, and demanding in another: the group's toughest fixtures come last.
See New Zealand's matches alongside every other fixture, filter by host country and add them to your phone calendar in one tap.
Open New Zealand's schedulePlay the World Cup on CricketDream
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Frequently asked questions
When is New Zealand's first match at the 2027 World Cup?
Saturday 9 October 2027 against South Africa at Newlands in Cape Town.
Have New Zealand ever won the Cricket World Cup?
No. They were runners-up in 2015 and 2019, and lost the 2023 semi-final to India.
When do New Zealand play India at the 2027 World Cup?
Only in the Super 7, if both qualify: B1 plays A1 in Paarl on Thursday 4 November.
Where will New Zealand play at the 2027 World Cup?
Group games in Cape Town, KuGompo City, Harare, Johannesburg and Gqeberha. The B1 Super 7 path adds Victoria Falls, Paarl and Durban and returns to Gqeberha, KuGompo City and Cape Town.