Zimbabwe Cricket (ZC) confirmed on Monday, 19 October 2026 that construction of the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium in Victoria Falls has entered its final phase, as an International Cricket Council (ICC) delegation completed an inspection of the country's venues for the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup. The new stadium, Zimbabwe's newest international cricket venue, is on course to be ready by mid-2027, ahead of the tournament scheduled for October–November 2027.

Construction Progress at Victoria Falls

According to ZC, the main building works at the Mosi-oa-Tunya International Cricket Stadium are largely complete. The media centre, broadcast centre, changing rooms, medical facility, grandstands, and grass banks are all described as almost ready, with roofing, bucket seat installation, and other finishing works now under way. Corporate gazebos are also set to be erected in the coming weeks.

ZC managing director Givemore Makoni said in a statement: 'The main building works are as good as complete and we are now concentrating on the finishes that will bring the stadium together, with all the outstanding materials having been delivered. When you look at the outfield and how the facilities are taking shape, there is a real sense of excitement about how close we are to playing cricket here.'

Trial Match and International Series Planned

Before reaching its full completion target of mid-2027, the Victoria Falls venue will host a trial match — the exact date of which is yet to be announced. Makoni said the trial event will help assess playing facilities and essential match-day operations. An international series is also planned around the same period to give the ground a more comprehensive test before the World Cup begins.

ICC Delegation's Assessment

The ICC inspection was led by tournament director Sarah Edgar and Zimbabwe tournament director Hamilton Masakadza, the former Zimbabwe captain. The delegation began at Takashinga Cricket Club in Harare, a potential warm-up venue, before moving to Harare Sports Club.

Edgar said the ICC was pleased with the progress: 'We are pleased with the progress made in addressing the baseline requirements to bring the venues up to the standards necessary for the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027. Victoria Falls, in particular, is an exciting project. International fans will be in for a real treat, with the opportunity to experience international cricket at such an iconic destination.'

Masakadza added: 'We've identified areas where we will adjust a little bit and tailor-make to the ICC requirements for the 2027 event. In Victoria Falls, there is a lot of progress and we're all very excited about how things are looking there. In terms of the timelines as well, we're very comfortable with what's happening there.'

Upgrades at Harare and Bulawayo

In Harare and Bulawayo, the focus is on bringing established venues up to current tournament standards — requirements that have changed considerably since Zimbabwe last co-hosted the Men's ODI World Cup in 2003. Selected stands at Harare Sports Club and Queens Sports Club are set to be refurbished with bucket seats, while floodlights will be installed at Queens Sports Club and the Mosi-oa-Tunya stadium ahead of the tournament.

About the 2027 Men's ODI World Cup

The 2027 Men's ODI World Cup will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia — marking the tournament's return to Africa for the first time since 2003. The 14th edition of the event will feature 14 teams across 57 matches at 12 venues. It will also be the first time Namibia hosts matches at the showpiece event. Once completed, Victoria Falls will join Harare and Bulawayo as Zimbabwe's three host cities for the tournament.