Addis Ababa, May 2, 2026 (FMC) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced major milestones for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) “Pamoja” 2027, confirming the kick-off date, final match schedule, and the roadmap for the qualification campaign.
According to CAF, the opening match of the continental showpiece will be played on 19 June 2027, while the final is scheduled for 17 July 2027. The tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marking the first time in AFCON history that three countries will co-host the competition.
CAF said the host nation for both the opening match and the final will be announced at a later stage.
The governing body also revealed the structure and timeline of the qualification process, which will determine the teams joining the co-hosts in the expanded tournament.
Following the completion of the preliminary round, the next major step will be the qualifiers draw scheduled for 19 May 2026, which will set the competitive pathway for 48 participating national teams, including the three host countries.
The qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows:
- Matchdays 1 and 2: 21 September – 6 October 2026
- Matchdays 3 and 4: 9 – 17 November 2026
- Matchdays 5 and 6: 22 – 30 March 2027
Teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the final tournament.
CAF described AFCON 2027 as a landmark edition that highlights the growing profile of African football and strengthens regional cooperation in East Africa. The tournament will also represent a major step in CAF’s continued efforts to expand competitiveness and global visibility of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The announcement comes as preparations intensify across Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, which are undertaking infrastructure upgrades, stadium development, and broader logistical arrangements ahead of the 2027 finals.
CAF said further details regarding the competition, including specific venue allocations and final organizational arrangements, will be communicated in due course.