Cricket’s Biggest Rivalry Sets Ticket Ballot Ablaze Ahead of 2027 World Cup

The India-Pakistan rivalry is already dominating the build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, with more than 100,000 ticket applications received for their October 10 group-stage clash, the ICC said on Tuesday.

The extraordinary demand has come within days of the ticket ballot opening, underlining the enduring global appeal of one of cricket’s most fiercely followed rivalries.

The 14th ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be played across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia from October 2 to November 21, 2027. The ICC said more than 320,000 fans have already registered for the ballot, submitting applications for matches across the three host nations.

The overall number of ticket applications has crossed one million, with the India-Pakistan fixture currently leading the demand chart.

The October 10 encounter is followed by South Africa vs India, which has attracted more than 86,000 applications, while India vs Australia has received over 80,000.

Another India-Pakistan meeting could take place in the pre-seeded Super 7 stage on November 7, with that fixture already attracting around 75,000 applications. The World Cup final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg has received nearly 65,000 applications so far.

The ICC said ticket prices will start at USD 9.62 (R158), while the highest-tier matches will cost USD 31.31 (R514). Family bundles, student and pensioner pricing, early-bird local allocations and special rates for community clubs and school groups have also been included.

ICC CEO Sanjog Gupta said the scale of early demand reflected the stature of the World Cup and the growing reach of international cricket.

He also described the tournament as an important moment for African cricket, with an ICC men's marquee event returning to the continent after two decades.

Fans can register for the ballot and select their preferred matches on the ICC ticketing platform until November 21, 2026.