Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, marking the first time the competition will be jointly hosted by three countries in East Africa.
Gatekeepers News reports that the tournament will be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya or Tanzania, and under the “Pamoja” partnership arrangement. However, CAF is yet to announce which country will stage the opening match and final.
The dates were approved during a FIFA Council meeting held in Vancouver, Canada, following concerns over the readiness of the host nations. CAF President reportedly resisted proposals to postpone the tournament to 2028, insisting preparations were progressing satisfactorily.
CAF also confirmed that the qualification draw for the tournament will hold on May 19, 2026, with 48 national teams expected to participate in the qualifiers, including the three host nations. The qualifying matches will be played during FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027.
The 2027 edition will mark AFCON’s return to the East African region for the first time since hosted by Ethiopia.
