East Africa Sets Stage as CAF Confirms AFCON 2027 Qualifiers and Tournament Timeline
CAF AFCON 2027 qualifiers dates are now confirmed as the Confederation of African Football finalises the roadmap for the next continental championship. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will host the tournament from 19 June to 17 July 2027. The event marks the first three‑nation AFCON in history and returns the competition to East Africa after more than five decades.
CAF confirms AFCON 2027 qualifiers dates and format
CAF AFCON 2027 qualifiers dates follow a clear and compact structure. The draw takes place on 19 May 2026. Forty‑eight teams enter the qualifiers, including the three co‑hosts. They will compete across three FIFA international windows.
Matchdays 1 and 2 run from 21 September to 6 October 2026. Matchdays 3 and 4 follow from 9 to 17 November 2026. The final rounds, Matchdays 5 and 6, take place from 22 to 30 March 2027. CAF will divide the teams into 12 groups of four. The top two nations in each group qualify for the tournament.
Host nations accelerate preparations
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda continue to upgrade stadiums and training centres ahead of the event. CAF recently inspected several venues and encouraged the hosts to maintain steady progress. The organisation expects all stadiums to meet international standards before the final inspection window in early 2027. Governments across the three nations have increased investment in transport, accommodation and security to support the tournament.
A major moment for East African football
The 2027 edition offers a rare opportunity for East Africa to showcase its football culture. CAF expects the event to reach more than 400 million people across the region. The opening match and final will take place in one of the three host nations. CAF will confirm the selected venue later. The tournament also aims to boost tourism and strengthen regional cooperation.
Building on recent AFCON momentum
CAF plans to build on the success of recent editions. Morocco 2025 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023 delivered strong global audiences and commercial growth. The organisation expects AFCON 2027 to continue that trend and elevate African football’s global profile.