Key points
- Nearly 8.4 million ticket requests have been made for the India-Pakistan group-stage match at the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.
- India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet on October 10 at Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium, which has a capacity of 34,000.
- The Wanderers will also host the World Cup final on November 21, for which almost eight million ticket applications have been received.
- The tournament will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia and will run from October 7 to November 21, 2027.
- The opening match on October 7 will be a repeat of the 2023 World Cup final between Australia and India.
- India have won their last nine meetings with Pakistan, whose most recent win against India came at the 2022 Asia Cup.
Nearly 8.4 million ticket requests have been made for the India-Pakistan group-stage match at the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup, underlining the extraordinary demand for one of cricket's most closely followed rivalries. The teams are scheduled to meet on October 10 at Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium, a venue with a stated capacity of 34,000 spectators.
The scale of the applications is striking when measured against the ground's capacity. The same stadium is also set to host the tournament final on November 21, which has attracted almost eight million ticket applications. The 2027 edition will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
India-Pakistan fixture attracts huge demand
The India-Pakistan match is among the most anticipated fixtures in the international cricket calendar and is also described as the tournament's most lucrative match financially. The latest ticket-request figure of nearly 8.4 million illustrates the level of interest surrounding the contest, although the Wanderers can accommodate only 34,000 spectators.
The October 10 meeting will take place in Johannesburg, giving the city a central role in the tournament's biggest group-stage occasion. The venue's significance extends beyond that fixture: it is also scheduled to stage the final on November 21. Almost eight million ticket applications have been received for the championship decider.
The figures represent requests rather than confirmed attendance, and the demand far exceeds the available capacity at the ground. The information provided does not specify how tickets will be allocated or when successful applicants will be notified.
World Cup begins with a repeat of the 2023 final
The tournament is scheduled to begin on October 7, 2027, with an opening match that will revisit the 2023 World Cup final between Australia and India. Australia stunned India in the final in Ahmedabad, and the rematch will provide the opening contest of the next edition.
The 2027 competition will be staged across South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Its schedule runs through to November 21, when the Wanderers in Johannesburg is due to host the final. The tournament will therefore bring international cricket to venues across the three co-host nations over a period of more than six weeks.
Recent India-Pakistan results favour India
Despite the intense interest in the rivalry, the recent results described in the report have favoured India. India have won their past nine meetings with Pakistan, while Pakistan's last victory against India came at the 2022 Asia Cup.
The sequence adds a sporting dimension to the huge public interest in the 2027 fixture. Ticket demand is driven by the significance of the rivalry and the occasion, even as the recent head-to-head run has gone India's way. The October 10 match will be another major chapter in a contest that attracts attention well beyond the two teams' supporters.
Group stage and route to the Super 7
Pakistan are placed in a group with Australia, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and one team yet to qualify. The other group includes England, South Africa, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and another qualifier.
The progression format gives the top three teams from each group a place in the Super 7 stage. The best fourth-placed team across the two groups will also advance, creating a seven-team next phase. From there, the top four sides will qualify for the semi-finals.
With the India-Pakistan match already attracting nearly 8.4 million ticket requests and the final drawing almost eight million applications, demand is set to be a major talking point as the tournament approaches. The figures also underline the challenge of accommodating supporters for marquee fixtures at a venue with limited capacity compared with the number of people seeking tickets.
The 2027 World Cup will open on October 7 with Australia against India, feature the India-Pakistan group match in Johannesburg on October 10, and conclude with the final at the same ground on November 21. For now, the ticket-request numbers offer a clear indication of the attention surrounding the tournament's biggest fixtures.
Frequently asked questions
How many ticket requests have been made for India vs Pakistan at the 2027 World Cup?
Nearly 8.4 million ticket requests have been received for the group-stage match between India and Pakistan. The fixture is scheduled for October 10, 2027, at Johannesburg's Wanderers Stadium, which has a stated capacity of 34,000 spectators.
When and where will India play Pakistan in the 2027 World Cup?
India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet on October 10, 2027, at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa. The ground has a capacity of 34,000, making the reported ticket demand far greater than the number of available seats.
How many ticket applications have been received for the 2027 World Cup final?
Almost eight million ticket applications have been received for the 2027 World Cup final. The final is scheduled for November 21 at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg, the same venue that will stage the India-Pakistan group match.
Which countries are hosting the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup?
South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia are co-hosting the 2027 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to begin on October 7, with the final set for November 21, according to the information supplied in the report.
What is the format for the 2027 Cricket World Cup after the group stage?
The top three teams from each of the two groups, along with the best fourth-placed team across the groups, will advance to the Super 7 stage. From that stage, the top four teams will qualify for the semi-finals.
When did Pakistan last beat India in men's cricket, according to the report?
The report states that Pakistan's most recent win against India came at the 2022 Asia Cup. It also notes that India have won their past nine meetings with Pakistan, despite the rivalry remaining one of the most anticipated fixtures in cricket.