According to the 2027 ODI World Cup draw, England is in Group B with Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and a qualifier. The tournament will take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia from October 4 to November 21, 2027.
On October 20, 2027, England will play its fourth group match in Harare against the qualifier from their group. The senior men’s team will play its first match on Zimbabwean soil in 23 years, following an ODI visit in November and December of 2004.
Zimbabwe is grouped with Qualifier A, India, Australia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan in Group A. Before the Super 7 phase, the two teams cannot meet because they are in opposing groups.
What does England’s group draw signify for their tournament trajectory?
Due to their Group B placing, England will not play either Australia, the reigning champions, or India, the tournament favourites, in the group stage. Both teams are in Group A, and England will only be able to play them starting in the Super 7 stage.
Bangladesh, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand—all of whom immediately qualify for the competition—are England’s opponents in Group B. The World Cup Qualifiers, which will take place in South Africa and Namibia in February and March of 2027, will choose their fifth group opponent. There are twelve teams vying for the final two tournament berths, including the West Indies, Ireland, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Nepal.
Given the history between the two countries, England’s match against the qualifier in Harare has extra significance. Nasser Hussain, the captain of England, blamed political pressure and threats of murder for the country’s boycott of their 2003 World Cup group match against Zimbabwe. The only time the two teams have faced off since the boycott was in September 2007 at an ICC event when Eng defeated Zimbabwe by 50 runs in Cape Town during the first World T20.
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When Zimbabwe visited Eng for a single Test match at Trent Bridge in May 2025, bilateral cricket ties between Zimbabwe and England were restored. It was an important step in mending the two boards’ relationship and their first Test match in 22 years.
Since the 2004 ODI tour, the senior men’s team from England had not visited Zimbabwe. Nonetheless, England’s Under-19 team did visit Zimbabwe in February 2026 for the Under-19 World Cup, which featured a final match versus India, allowing the younger generation to have a taste of the local environment.
Thus, the senior men’s team’s first competitive match in Zimbabwe in more than 20 years will take place in Harare during the 2027 World Cup. Following the conclusion of the February-March 2027 qualifying tournament in South Africa and Namibia, the qualifier they will play on October 20, 2027, will be confirmed.
