CAF Unveils 2027 AFCON Dates; Qualifiers Draw Set For May 19

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be played from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The dates were approved by the FIFA Council during its meeting in Vancouver, Canada, putting to rest fears that the joint host nations might not be ready on time. CAF president Patrice Motsepe successfully fought off calls to delay the tournament to 2028.

The 2027 edition, officially branded as TotalEnergies CAF AFCON “PAMOJA” 2027, will be the first AFCON spread over three co hosting countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. It also marks the return of Africa’s biggest football showpiece to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 edition in Ethiopia.

We have worked hard to ensure that the AFCON is held in East Africa, and our commitment remains unwavering. I am confident that we will organise a very successful AFCON in these three countries, Motsepe said in a statement.

The tournament will return to a summer format, more in line with the global football calendar. While the opening and final dates are confirmed, CAF has not yet announced which of the host cities will stage the opening match or the final. Proposed host cities include Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, and Kampala, among others, with several venues reportedly under construction.

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The road to the 2027 AFCON will begin with the official draw for the qualifiers on May 19, 2026. The qualification phase will feature 48 African national teams, including reigning champions Senegal, and will be played across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays 1 and 2 are scheduled for September 21 to October 6, 2026, while Matchdays 3 and 4 will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026. The final two matchdays are slated for March 22 to 30, 2027.

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, insisting the tournament would go ahead in East Africa. The three nations have consistently affirmed their commitment to meeting the required standards in time for the 2027 kickoff.

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