The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the kick-off dates for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
According to CAF, the opening match will be played on Saturday, June 19, 2027, while the final is scheduled for Saturday, July 17, 2027. The host venues for both fixtures will be announced at a later date.
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The 2027 edition will be the first AFCON tournament hosted by three countries, offering a unique opportunity to expand the reach of African football to over 400 million fans across the East African region.
Qualification Pathway Confirmed
Following the completion of the preliminary round, the road to the tournament will continue with the draw for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers on May 19, 2026.
A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers. The teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the final tournament.
The qualifiers will be played across designated FIFA international windows.
Return to East Africa
AFCON 2027 will mark the competition’s return to East Africa for the first time since the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 1976, hosted by Ethiopia.
CAF said the tournament will build on the commercial and sporting success of recent editions, including the 2025 and 2023 editions, both of which recorded strong global viewership, sponsorship growth, and increased revenue.
The AFCON 2027 tournament is expected to further strengthen the global appeal and competitiveness of African football.
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