Proteas avoid group of death at 2027 Cricket World Cup on home soil

South Africa will be pleased with the fixtures announced for next year’s Cricket World Cup, with the Proteas avoiding some big teams in the opening round of the global showpiece on home soil. catcrossgame.com

Drawn in Group B on Thursday, the SA team will turn out against New Zealand, Sri Lanka, England, Bangladesh and a qualifier side.

A tough Group A consists of top-ranked India, defending champions Australia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and another qualifier.

The top three teams in each group and the best fourth-placed side from both pools will progress to the Super 7 stage of the competition.

And the top four teams in the Super 7 round will compete in the semifinals, to be contested in Cape Town on 17 November and Centurion on 18 November.

The final will be held at the Wanderers, in Johannesburg, on 21 November.

Play-offs and venues

The first game of the tournament will be contested between India and Australia – a replay of the 2023 World Cup final – in Cape Town on 7 October.

South Africa will turn out in their first match against New Zealand, also at Newlands, on 9 October.

A total of 12 venues will be used for the tournament, which will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.

In South Africa, games will be played in Cape Town, Paarl, Johannesburg, Tshwane, Bloemfontein, Durban, KuGompo City and Gqeberha.

Other host cities and towns include Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, as well as Windhoek in Namibia.

Denmark vs Portugal meets at Parken in Copenhagen on Thursday, 1 October 2026 in UEFA Nations League A Group 4. Portugal arrive top of the group with six points from two matches, while Denmark have three after responding to an opening defeat in Norway with a 2-0 home win over Wales.

The fixture also renews a recent Nations League rivalry. Denmark beat Portugal 1-0 in Copenhagen in the 2025 quarter-final first leg before Portugal won the return 5-2 after extra time to advance 6-3 on aggregate. This time the teams meet in the league phase with the Group A4 table already beginning to take shape.

For the Denmark vs Portugal live score, confirmed lineups and changing match statistics, follow SP Score once the match begins.

Match information	Details
Competition	UEFA Nations League 2026/27
League / Group	League A – Group A4
Date	Thursday, 1 October 2026
Kick-off	20:45 Copenhagen local / 20:45 SAST / 18:45 UTC
Venue	Parken, Copenhagen, Denmark
Denmark coach	Brian Riemer
Portugal coach	Jorge Jesus

The Danish Football Association confirms Parken as the venue and 20:45 as the local kick-off time. Denmark stay in the same international window for an away match against Wales on 4 October, while Portugal host Norway.

READ ALSO: Türkiye vs France: Nations League preview, team news and H2H

Denmark vs Portugal results enter Matchday 3 with Portugal holding the only perfect record in Group A4. Jorge Jesus’ side beat Wales 1-0 and Norway 2-1, while Denmark recovered from a 3-2 defeat in Oslo by beating Wales 2-0 at Parken.

Team	P	W		D	L		GF-GA	Pts
Portugal	2	2		0	0		3-1	6
Norway	2	1		0	1		4-4	3
Denmark	2	1		0	1		4-3	3
Wales	2	0		0	2		0-3	0
Team			24 Sep			27 Sep
Denmark			Norway 3-2 Denmark			Denmark 2-0 Wales
Portugal			Portugal 1-0 Wales			Norway 1-2 Portugal

The top two teams in each League A group progress to the quarter-finals. A Denmark win would bring them level with Portugal on six points, while another Portuguese victory would create a significant gap over the chasing teams.

READ ALSO: Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nations League match preview

Denmark vs Portugal team news has changed sharply on the Portuguese side. Cristiano Ronaldo left the Portugal camp in Copenhagen on 30 September after discussions around his role under Jorge Jesus and will not play against Denmark.

Portugal had already shown they can win without Ronaldo when he remained an unused substitute in the 2-1 victory over Norway. João Félix opened the scoring in Oslo and Gonçalo Ramos scored the winner after Erling Haaland had equalised. Bruno Fernandes missed that match with a fitness issue, so his status is another point to watch before the starting lineups are confirmed.

Denmark’s current Nations League squad includes Filip Jørgensen, Joachim Andersen, Joakim Mæhle, Patrick Dorgu, Morten Hjulmand, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, Gustav Isaksen, Rasmus Højlund and Mikkel Damsgaard. Isaksen and Damsgaard were among the scorers across Denmark’s first two group matches, while Højlund remains one of Brian Riemer’s central attacking options.

Denmark vs Portugal lineups will be confirmed shortly before kick-off, but UEFA’s current squad lists show the options available to both coaches. Denmark can build around Jørgensen in goal, Andersen and Mæhle in defence, Hjulmand and Højbjerg in midfield, with Højlund, Isaksen and Damsgaard among the attacking choices.

Portugal’s available group includes Diogo Costa, Rúben Dias, Nuno Mendes, João Cancelo, João Palhinha, Bernardo Silva, João Neves, Vitinha, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Rafael Leão and Pedro Neto. Ronaldo’s departure removes one major selection question and makes Ramos, Félix and the wide forwards more important to the attacking plan.

The confirmed starting elevens should take precedence over projected teams because both sides are playing their third match in a demanding international window.

Denmark vs Portugal H2H is led historically by Portugal, but the most relevant recent meetings came in the 2025 Nations League quarter-finals. Denmark won the first leg 1-0 at Parken before Portugal overturned the tie in Lisbon.

Date	Fixture	Result	Competition
23 Mar 2025	Portugal vs Denmark	Portugal 5-2 Denmark (AET)	Nations League QF
20 Mar 2025	Denmark vs Portugal	Denmark 1-0 Portugal	Nations League QF
8 Oct 2015	Portugal vs Denmark	Portugal 1-0 Denmark	EURO qualifying
14 Oct 2014	Denmark vs Portugal	Denmark 0-1 Portugal	EURO qualifying
13 Jun 2012	Denmark vs Portugal	Denmark 2-3 Portugal	UEFA EURO

The 5-2 result in Lisbon and Denmark’s 1-0 first-leg win explain why both scorelines remain closely associated with this fixture. They also show that Denmark have recent evidence of beating Portugal at Parken, even though Portugal ultimately won the quarter-final tie 6-3 on aggregate.

READ ALSO: Portugal World Cup 2026: squad, fixtures, results and group table

Denmark vs Portugal stats show both teams have scored three or more goals across the first two rounds, but Portugal hold the stronger defensive record. Denmark have four goals and three conceded; Portugal have three goals and one conceded.

Gustav Isaksen and Rasmus Højlund give Denmark direct running and penalty-area presence, while Mikkel Damsgaard can create from between the lines. Hjulmand and Højbjerg offer experience in the centre of midfield against a Portugal unit built around technical control.

Portugal have already had goals from different attackers in this campaign. João Félix and Gonçalo Ramos scored in Oslo, and the absence of Ronaldo increases the importance of Ramos, Félix, Rafael Leão and Pedro Neto. Vitinha and João Neves can also influence how much possession Portugal establish at Parken.

Denmark vs Portugal prediction discussion has to balance Portugal’s six-point start against Denmark’s strong home response to Wales and their 1-0 win over Portugal at Parken in March 2025.

Portugal have produced the more consistent opening two rounds and have already shown they can win away from home without Ronaldo. Denmark, however, are capable of making Parken difficult through midfield pressure, quick wide attacks and Højlund’s movement through the centre.

Rather than treating either side as an automatic winner, the stronger match indicators are Portugal’s control in midfield, Denmark’s home intensity and which team handles the transitions better. The first goal could be especially important because both teams have players suited to attacking space once the game opens.

Denmark vs Portugal live coverage begins at 20:45 in Copenhagen and 20:45 SAST, with kick-off at 18:45 UTC. Broadcast availability varies by territory, so viewers should check UEFA and authorised local listings for confirmed coverage where they are.

Confirmed lineups normally appear shortly before kick-off. Live-score coverage will track goals, cards, substitutions, match statistics and the Group A4 table. Denmark vs Portugal highlights should be available through authorised competition and broadcast channels after the match, subject to local rights.

Continue with related international football coverage on SportPesa South Africa:

• Türkiye vs France: Nations League preview, team news and H2H

• Poland vs Bosnia and Herzegovina: Nations League match preview

• Portugal World Cup 2026: squad, fixtures, results and group table

• Portugal vs Congo: World Cup preview and prediction

The UEFA Nations League match is on Thursday, 1 October 2026.

Kick-off is at 20:45 in Copenhagen, 20:45 SAST and 18:45 UTC.

The match is at Parken in Copenhagen, Denmark.

They are in UEFA Nations League A Group A4 with Norway and Wales.

Denmark lost 3-2 away to Norway before beating Wales 2-0 at Parken, leaving them on three points after two matches.

Portugal beat Wales 1-0 and Norway 2-1, giving them six points from two matches.

No. Ronaldo left Portugal’s camp on 30 September and will not feature in Copenhagen.

Portugal beat Denmark 5-2 after extra time in the second leg of the 2025 Nations League quarter-final and advanced 6-3 on aggregate.

Denmark won 1-0 at Parken on 20 March 2025 in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final.

Broadcast rights vary by territory. Check UEFA and authorised local listings for viewing information and use live-score coverage for match events and statistics.

Denmark vs Portugal brings together the top two scoring sides in Group A4 after the opening two rounds, with Portugal leading on six points and Denmark among the chasing teams on three. Parken also gives the fixture recent context after Denmark’s 1-0 home win over Portugal in March 2025.

Portugal arrive with two wins but without Cristiano Ronaldo, while Denmark have regained momentum after beating Wales. The midfield battle, Portugal’s revised attacking setup and Denmark’s ability to create chances for Højlund and their wide players should shape the match.

For more international football coverage, visit SportPesa South Africa Blog. 18+. Gambling is addictive. Play responsibly.

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Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says he’s excited to see what Stravino Jacobs can do with more ball in hand against Munster in Limerick on Saturday.

Jacobs has moved from the left wing to inside centre for the URC clash at Thomond Park after Harold Vorster fell ill during the week.

Ackermann believes the 26-year-old’s physical attributes could make him an effective No 12.

“Stravino showed on the weekend [against Zebre] his power running. That’s his strength, ball in hand,” Ackermann said.

“That’s what we’re excited about, to see what he can do when he gets more ball in hand, because sometimes at wing you’re not guaranteed how many times you’re going to touch the ball. Sometimes the game just doesn’t go your way.

“Now we’re probably going to see him with much more ball in hand.

“Stravino reminds me of a Ruan Combrinck and Caleb Clarke, those kinds of players – physical. So we’re excited to see that.

“Defensively, he’s always been a good tackler, he’s always been a good defender. At 12, most of the time you face loose forwards running at you and other 12s running at you.

“He’ll hopefully be able to handle that, even though it’s a new position.”

TEAM: Bulls rejig backline for Munster battle

Jacobs’ switch sees former Munster wing Thaakir Abrahams wear the No 11 jersey, while in other changes to the backline, Hakeem Kunene replaces Willie le Roux at fullback and Zak Burger rotates with Paul de Wet at scrumhalf.

The Bulls began their campaign with a 47-13 victory against Zebre in Parma, while Munster will be looking to respond after a 26-20 home defeat to the Glasgow Warriors.

“I think Munster as a team are going to be so challenging,” said Ackermann. “They obviously want to fix what happened last season when we beat them [twice], especially in the quarter-final.

“We know they’re going to come out [firing]. They’ve lost their first game, so that will be added motivation.”

Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Getty Images

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