AFCON 2027 — Key Facts
- 28 teams — expanded from 24
- 7 groups of 4 teams in the group stage
- 16 teams reach the Round of 16
- Hosts: Tanzania 🇹🇿, Kenya 🇰🇪, Uganda 🇺🇬
- Dates: 19 June – 17 July 2027
- Announced: July 23, 2026 by CAF President Patrice Motsepe
Summary: AFCON 2027 expands to 28 teams in seven groups of four, confirmed by CAF on July 23, 2026. The top two teams from each group plus the two best third-placed teams advance to a 16-team knockout stage. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
AFCON 2027 will feature 28 teams — confirmed by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe on July 23, 2026, expanding the tournament from 24 teams for the first time since 2019. The 28 teams will be divided into seven groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing automatically to the Round of 16 alongside the two best third-placed teams across all seven groups. This is everything you need to know about what changes, what stays the same and what it means for qualifying and fans attending in East Africa.
How the New 28-Team Format Works
Under the new structure, 28 teams will be divided into seven groups of four during the group stage. The top two teams from each group will automatically progress to the Round of 16, while the remaining two spots will be awarded to the two best third-placed teams across the seven groups. That produces 16 teams for the knockout phase — the same Round of 16 structure used since AFCON expanded from 16 to 24 teams in 2019.
Old format vs New format
| AFCON 2025 (24 teams) | AFCON 2027 (28 teams) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total teams | 24 | 28 |
| Groups | 6 groups of 4 | 7 groups of 4 |
| Auto-qualifiers from groups | Top 2 from 6 groups = 12 | Top 2 from 7 groups = 14 |
| Best third-placed qualifiers | 4 best third-placed teams | 2 best third-placed teams |
| Teams reaching Round of 16 | 16 | 16 |
| Knockout format | R16 → QF → SF → Final | R16 → QF → SF → Final |
The critical difference from the old format: finishing third is now far more dangerous in 2027. In the 24-team format, four of the six third-placed teams advanced. In the 28-team format, only the two best third-placed teams from seven groups advance — meaning five third-placed teams go home. Every point in the group stage matters more than ever.
Why CAF Expanded AFCON to 28 Teams
CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the decision during a media briefing in Johannesburg, revealing that the expanded format is part of the continent’s continued efforts to grow Africa’s biggest football competition. The move mirrors expansions seen in other major international tournaments — the men’s FIFA World Cup has expanded to 48 teams from 2026, while the European Championship grew from 16 to 24 teams in 2016.
Four additional African nations will now qualify for the finals — opening the door for emerging football countries that have historically struggled to break through the 24-team ceiling. Nations like Somalia, Eritrea and South Sudan, who are attending their first or second qualifying campaigns, now have a more realistic path to the finals.
What It Means for Qualifying
The qualifying campaign structure — 12 groups of 4 teams across three international windows — was drawn in Cairo on 19 May 2026, before the 28-team expansion was announced. CAF says it will clarify the qualification system soon. The most likely outcome is that additional qualifying spots go to the best-performing third-placed teams across the 12 groups. CAF is expected to confirm the exact mechanism before qualifying begins on September 21, 2026.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchdays 1 & 2 | 21 September – 6 October 2026 |
| Matchdays 3 & 4 | 9 – 17 November 2026 |
| Matchdays 5 & 6 | 22 – 30 March 2027 |
What does not change: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda remain automatically qualified as co-hosts. All three host nations will still play in the qualifying campaign but their places at the finals are guaranteed regardless of results.
What It Means for the Biggest Nations
For the traditional powerhouses — Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon — the expansion changes very little. These nations qualify for AFCON regularly and comfortably. The expansion matters most for nations on the edge of AFCON qualification, opening a meaningful opportunity for emerging football nations to reach the finals for the first time.
AFCON 2027 Is Also the Last Biennial Edition
CAF confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged again in 2028 before transitioning to a four-year cycle thereafter. This makes AFCON 2027 doubly historic — the first 28-team edition and the second-to-last time the tournament is held every two years.
- AFCON 2027 — Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda — 28 teams — June 19 to July 17, 2027
- AFCON 2028 — host and format TBC — final biennial edition
- AFCON 2032 — first quadrennial edition — 4-year cycle begins
Frequently Asked Questions
How many teams are in AFCON 2027?
28 teams. CAF President Patrice Motsepe confirmed the expansion from 24 to 28 teams on July 23, 2026 at a press conference in Johannesburg. This is the largest AFCON field ever assembled.
How does AFCON 2027 work?
28 teams are split into seven groups of four. The top two teams from each group automatically advance to the Round of 16 — that is 14 teams. The two best third-placed teams from across the seven groups also qualify, completing a 16-team knockout stage of Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals and Final.
How many groups does AFCON 2027 have?
Seven groups of four teams — up from six groups of four at AFCON 2025. Each group plays a round-robin format with every team playing three matches.
How does the 28-team expansion affect AFCON 2027 qualifying?
Four extra teams will qualify for the tournament finals. CAF is expected to announce how these four additional spots are distributed across the existing 12 qualifying groups before qualifying begins on September 21, 2026. The three co-hosts — Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda — qualify automatically regardless.
How many teams qualify from each group at AFCON 2027?
The top two teams from each of the seven groups qualify automatically — 14 teams total. Two additional spots go to the two best third-placed teams across all seven groups, bringing the Round of 16 to 16 teams.
Is AFCON 2027 the last biennial tournament?
No — AFCON 2028 will be the final biennial edition. From 2032 the tournament moves to a four-year cycle. AFCON 2027 is the second-to-last edition to be held every two years.
Where is AFCON 2027 being held?
Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda — the first time AFCON has been hosted by three nations simultaneously and the first time the tournament returns to East Africa since Ethiopia hosted in 1976. The tournament runs from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
When does AFCON 2027 start?
June 19, 2027. The final is on July 17, 2027.
For the complete tournament guide see our dates and schedule guide. For all qualifying groups see our groups guide. For the full qualifying schedule see our qualifying schedule. For tickets see our tickets guide. For the predictor tool see our AFCON 2027 bracket predictor.
Expansion confirmed by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe at a press conference in Johannesburg on July 23, 2026. Sources: Africanews, Morocco World News, Adomonline, Africa Soccer, Pulse Ghana, Citi Sports Online. Qualification structure details pending official CAF confirmation — this page will be updated immediately when CAF announces the revised allocation. Qualifying begins September 21, 2026.