India-Pakistan World Cup Match Tops Ticket Demand
8.4 million requests for the group stage clash surpass the nearly 8 million for the final in Johannesburg.
By Kevin Iyer ·
The 2027 Cricket World Cup features 12 teams competing in two groups. Demand for a specific group stage fixture has now outpaced interest in the tournament final.
The International Cricket Council reported on Monday that 8.4 million ticket requests were received for the India versus Pakistan match. That contest is scheduled for October 10 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The final, set for November 21 at the same venue, drew nearly eight million requests.
Historically, matches between these two South Asian neighbors rank just below the final in popularity. This year, the opening phase contest has broken that pattern. The teams may meet again during the Super Seven stage and potentially in the final, depending on their progression.
This marks the fourth consecutive 50-over World Cup where India and Pakistan share a group. Their placement resulted from a closed-door ballot. That process differs from the selection methods used by other major global sporting events.
Group A includes Australia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, and one qualifier. Group B consists of New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh, and another qualifier. The initial phase will use a round-robin format.
The 57-match tournament runs from October 7 to November 21, 2027. South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia will share hosting duties across 12 venues. Namibia will host men's World Cup games for the first time. Zimbabwe will debut its new stadium at Victoria Falls.
The online ticket ballot opened on October 1 and closes at 22:00 GMT on November 21. By Sunday, total requests exceeded 120 million. These came from 2.8 million distinct fan accounts in 193 countries. South Africa, the United Kingdom, India, the United States, and Australia lead in registrations. Fans in Africa submitted 14.9 million applications. The event returns the World Cup to the continent after a 24-year gap. The Wanderers previously hosted the 2003 final, where Australia beat India by 125 runs, and the 2007 T20 World Cup final, which India won against Pakistan.
