CAF Confirms AFCON 2027 Dates: June 19 to July 17 in East Africa

Key facts

• Opening match on Saturday, 19 June 2027; final on Saturday, 17 July 2027.
• Co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda — first AFCON with three hosts.
• Dates approved by FIFA Council at its meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
• Qualifiers draw on 19 May 2026; 48 teams drawn into 12 groups of four.
• Top two from each group qualify for final tournament.
• Tournament returns to East Africa for first time since Ethiopia 1976.
• CAF president Patrice Motsepe resisted calls to delay to 2028.
• Host cities for opening match and final to be announced later.

Historic Three-Nation Tournament Gets Green Light

The Confederation of African Football has set the dates for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, ending months of speculation over the readiness of the three host nations. The opening match will be played on Saturday, 19 June 2027, and the final on Saturday, 17 July 2027, CAF announced. The dates were approved by the FIFA Council during its recent meeting in Vancouver, Canada, putting to rest fears that the joint hosts might not be ready on time. CAF president Patrice Motsepe successfully fought off calls to delay the tournament to 2028, dismissing claims that South Africa was on standby as a backup host. The three nations have consistently affirmed their commitment to meeting the required standards in time for the 2027 kickoff.

A First for African Football: Three Countries, One Tournament

The 2027 edition, officially branded as TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027, will be the first Africa Cup of Nations hosted by three countries. The tri-national event presents a unique opportunity to reach over 400 million people in the East African region, CAF stated. It also marks the return of Africa’s biggest football showpiece to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 edition in Ethiopia. Proposed host cities include Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala, among others, with several venues reportedly under construction. CAF has not yet announced which country will stage the opening match or the final, saying those decisions will be made in due course.

Road to the Final: Qualification Draw Set for May 2026

With the preliminary round already completed, the journey to the final tournament will continue with the draw for the qualifiers on 19 May 2026. A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers. The draw will determine the pathway to the final tournament, with teams divided into 12 groups of four. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the final tournament. The qualifiers will be played across three FIFA International Windows: Matchdays 1 and 2 from 21 September to 6 October 2026; Matchdays 3 and 4 from 9 to 17 November 2026; and Matchdays 5 and 6 from 22 to 30 March 2027.

Building on Recent Success: Commercial Growth and Global Appeal

CAF noted that the 2027 tournament will build on the success of recent editions, including the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Morocco 2025 and the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023. Those editions delivered record commercial revenue, sponsorship growth, and global broadcast audiences, reflecting the increasing global competitiveness and popularity of African football. The 2027 edition will return to a summer format, more in line with the global football calendar, which is expected to further boost its international appeal.

Infrastructure Concerns and Political Will

The announcement comes after months of speculation about potential delays or a change of host nation due to infrastructure concerns. Reports had suggested South Africa was on standby as a backup host, but Motsepe dismissed those claims as unfounded. The three East African nations have consistently affirmed their commitment to meeting the required standards in time for the 2027 kickoff. CAF has not disclosed the specific venues or their readiness, but the proposed host cities include Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala, among others. Several venues are reportedly under construction to meet CAF requirements.

What Comes Next: Key Dates and Open Questions

The next major milestone is the qualifiers draw on 19 May 2026, which will set the pathway for the 48 teams. The qualifiers will then unfold across three international windows from September 2026 to March 2027. CAF has yet to announce which host country will stage the opening match and which will host the final, decisions that will shape the tournament's narrative. With the dates now confirmed, the focus shifts to infrastructure readiness and the competitive journey that will bring Africa's top football nations to East Africa for the first time in over 50 years.

The bottom line

• AFCON 2027 will be held from 19 June to 17 July 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
• It is the first AFCON with three host nations and the first in East Africa since 1976.
• Qualifiers begin with a draw on 19 May 2026; 48 teams compete in 12 groups, top two from each advance.
• CAF president Motsepe resisted calls to delay the tournament to 2028.
• Host cities for the opening match and final are yet to be announced.
• The tournament aims to build on record commercial revenue and global audiences from recent editions.