Caf reveals AFCON 2027 dates and qualifiers schedule
The Confederation of African Football has confirmed the schedule for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The tournament will be the first AFCON hosted by three countries, aiming to reach over 400 million people in East Africa. The qualification series will feature 48 teams, including the co-hosts, with group draws and matchdays set across multiple FIFA windows. CAF highlighted the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time since 1976 and expects to build on the commercial success of recent editions.
Match highlights
- The opening match is scheduled for Saturday, 19 June 2027, and the final for Saturday, 17 July 2027.
- The draw for the qualifiers will take place on May 19, 2026.
- Qualifier matchdays are set for 21 September to 6 October 2026, 9 to 17 November 2026, and 22 to 30 March 2027.
- 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will compete in the qualifiers, with 12 groups of four teams each.
- The top two teams from each group will qualify for the final tournament.
