Cricket South Africa could receive close to R500 million (approx. US$30 million) in hosting fees from the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, providing a significant financial injection as the governing body contends with declining revenue, reduced cash reserves and major tournament-related expenditure, according to a report by Daily Maverick.
The potential payment comes at an important point for CSA after it recorded a R440.6 million (approx. US$27 million) net loss in its latest integrated financial report, presented on September 27. Revenue fell from R1.39 billion (approx. US$84.0 million) in 2024/25 to R856 million (approx. US$52 million) in 2025/26 following a summer without home international cricket.
World Cup proceeds offer route to financial recovery
CSA’s financial position has also been affected by currency movements. A stronger rand against the US dollar reduced the value of ICC broadcast-rights revenue received by the organisation, with CSA putting the exchange-rate impact at R43 million (approx. US$3 million).
Cash and investments declined from R690 million (approx. US$42 million) to R280 million (approx. US$16.9 million), while reserves dropped from R1.42 billion (approx. US$86 million) to R981 million (approx. US$59 million). Another loss has been budgeted for 2026/27, while CSA Chief Financial Officer Tjaart van der Walt said the organisation expects its financial position to improve materially in 2027/28, with anticipated Cricket World Cup proceeds included in that outlook.
Preparations for the tournament are themselves placing demands on CSA’s finances. The governing body has committed R295 million (approx. US$18 million) to stadium upgrades, largely through loans to provincial affiliates that are due to be repaid after the World Cup.
How the World Cup hosting model works
South Africa will stage 41 of the tournament’s 57 matches, including both semifinals and the final, while Zimbabwe and Namibia will share the remaining fixtures. The competition will run from October 2 to November 21.
Although the ICC owns the World Cup and controls its broadcast and sponsorship rights, host boards receive fees for providing the infrastructure required to stage the event. The ICC also covers much of the cost of operating the tournament, while venues must be delivered without branding belonging to sponsors outside the World Cup’s commercial programme.
Hosts are also required to secure government guarantees and safeguards against local tax liabilities, with the ICC’s audited financial statements indicating that host cricket boards provide indemnity as part of those protections.
A recent comparison illustrates the potential value of hosting an ICC tournament. Cricket West Indies received US$22 million in hosting fees as a co-host of the 2024 T20 World Cup, alongside US$16.5 million in ticketing revenue, according to its audited accounts.
Ticketing strategy balances revenue and access
More than half a million tickets are expected to be available for the 2027 World Cup. Projections from a CSA-commissioned BDO study forecast attendance of 594,767 across eight South African venues, representing 85% of the combined capacity of 699,631 across the matches included in the study.
The projected South African attendance would be about 1.5 times the 399,575 tickets sold during the third season of SA20. The Wanderers in Johannesburg is forecast to attract 139,057 spectators and account for more than a third of hospitality tickets, ahead of Durban with 93,821 projected spectators and Cape Town with 87,333.
The projected ticket mix comprises 408,819 general-admission tickets, 82,098 hospitality tickets and 103,850 complimentary passes. The roughly 409,000 general-access tickets, based on an average price of approximately R250 (approx. US$15), would generate around R102 million (approx. US$6.2 million), according to the BDO study.
Ticketpro, CSA’s existing ticketing platform and the platform used for SA20 ticket sales over the past four years, appears set to be used for the World Cup. Its estimated 4% share of general ticket revenue would amount to approximately R4.1 million (approx. US$248K).
CSA said in an emailed response to Daily Maverick when asked whether the World Cup ticketing process had gone to tender: “Our ticketing strategy is anchored on trust, balancing access with revenue generation.”
CSA added: “We are bolting in specific principles, based on our access objectives and the learnings from all other events in the region. We are taking experiences in Namibia and Zimbabwe too into consideration. Our strategy is quite robust, future-focused and best in class.”
Tournament carries wider economic expectations
The direct ticketing opportunity is only one component of the financial activity expected around the World Cup. The BDO study projected R6.7 billion (approx. US$405 million) in indirect spending generated by the tournament and an overall economic impact of R19.7 billion (approx. US$1.2 billion), alongside the creation of 27,347 jobs.
For CSA itself, however, the expected hosting payment represents a more direct financial benefit. With another loss budgeted before the tournament and R295 million (approx. US$18 million) already committed to venue improvements, the anticipated World Cup proceeds form part of the financial improvement CSA expects in 2027/28.
