CAF has officially announced the kick-off and final dates for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations amid rising concerns about the readiness of co-host nations Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
CAF stated that the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON ‘PAMOJA’ 2027 will run from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Venues for both matches will be announced later.
This confirmation follows a Le Monde report raising concerns about delays in infrastructure and stadium readiness across the three countries.
The report indicated Uganda lags furthest behind, with no stadium meeting CAF’s Category 4 standards and doubts over its ability to host.
Kenya has received a warning over delays despite plans for five stadiums, including Talanta Stadium, now due in mid-2026 instead of end-2025, while Tanzania is considered relatively on track with works progressing in line with requirements.
There were also reportedly contingency discussions within CAF, with Rwanda and South Africa specifically considered as potential backup hosts in the event Morocco could not proceed, particularly after Morocco’s 2025 AFCON set new standards in organisation, revenues, and attendance, raising expectations for future editions.
CAF stressed that the 2027 AFCON will build on the success of recent editions, including Morocco 2025 and Côte d’Ivoire 2023, which set records in revenue, sponsorship, and global broadcast reach, “reflecting the global competitiveness and popularity of African football on the world stage.”
2027 marks the first AFCON hosted by three countries, giving CAF a chance to reach over 400 million people in East Africa. CACAF announced the 2027 AFCON qualifiers draw will take place on May 19, 2026. A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will be split into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group qualifying for the final tournament.
The Qualifiers will run during the following FIFA windows: September 21–October 6, 2026; November 9–17, 2026; and March 22–30, 2027.
