AFCON 2027 runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 across three co-host nations: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Officially branded TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027, this is the 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations — the first co-hosted by three nations, the first in East Africa since 1976, and the last biennial AFCON in history. Here is everything confirmed.
AFCON 2027 — Key Dates at a Glance
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying begins | 21 September 2026 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Qualifying ends | 30 March 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Tournament opens | Saturday 19 June 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Group stage | 19 June – 30 June 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Round of 16 | 2 – 5 July 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Quarter-finals | 7 – 8 July 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Semi-finals | 11 – 12 July 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Third place play-off | 15 July 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Final | Saturday 17 July 2027 | ✅ Confirmed |
| Opening match venue | TBC by CAF | ⏳ Pending |
| Final venue | TBC by CAF | ⏳ Pending |
The dates were approved by the FIFA Council at a meeting in Vancouver, Canada and confirmed by CAF on 2 May 2026. The tournament runs 29 days — the same duration as recent AFCON editions.
Host Countries — Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda
AFCON 2027 is the first Africa Cup of Nations ever co-hosted by three nations. The East Africa PAMOJA bid by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda was awarded hosting rights by CAF on 27 September 2023, beating rival bids from Egypt, Senegal, Botswana and Algeria.
| Host nation | Venues | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania (lead host) | Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (60,000) Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium (30,000) Fumba City Stadium (36,500) Amaan Stadium (15,000) | Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Talanta Stadium / Raila Odinga International Stadium (60,000) Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani (48,000) | Nairobi |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | Mandela National Stadium (45,000) Hoima City Stadium (20,000) | Kampala, Hoima |
Tanzania is the lead co-host with four venues across three cities — more than any other host nation. Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam is CAF-accredited and guaranteed to host at least one semi-final. CAF will announce the opening match and final venues separately.
The Three Host Nations — Quick Facts
🇹🇿 Tanzania
Tanzania hosts the most matches of any AFCON 2027 nation. Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam (60,000) has been renovated to CAF standards. The new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha (30,000) is under construction at a cost of $112 million, targeting completion July 2026. Fumba City Stadium in Zanzibar (36,500) is a new build on the coast of Fumba. Tanzania’s national team — Taifa Stars — qualify automatically as co-hosts and are placed in Group L alongside Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar for the qualifying campaign. See our Zanzibar guide, Arusha guide and Dar es Salaam accommodation guide.
🇰🇪 Kenya
Kenya’s flagship venue is the brand new Talanta Stadium (officially Raila Odinga International Stadium), a 60,000-seat football-specific arena under construction in Nairobi’s Jamhuri Grounds. Kenya’s national team — Harambee Stars — also qualify automatically as co-hosts, placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. See our Nairobi travel guide.
🇺🇬 Uganda
Uganda hosts matches at Mandela National Stadium in Kampala (45,000) and the new Hoima City Stadium (20,000). Uganda’s Cranes qualify automatically as co-hosts, placed in Group H alongside Tunisia, Libya and Botswana.
AFCON 2027 Format
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Teams | 24 |
| Groups | 6 groups of 4 teams |
| Group stage matches | 36 |
| Knockout rounds | Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Final |
| Total matches | 52 |
| Qualification | Top 2 from each group + 4 best third-placed teams |
| Defending champions | Morocco 🇲🇦 (2025 winners) |
| Prize money | $10 million USD for winners |
AFCON 2027 Qualifying Schedule
48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of 4 on 19 May 2026 in Cairo. The top two teams from each group qualify for AFCON 2027. In groups containing co-host nations (Groups D, H and L), only one spot is contested — the hosts qualify automatically.
| Round | Dates |
|---|---|
| Matchdays 1 & 2 | 21 September – 6 October 2026 |
| Matchdays 3 & 4 | 9 – 17 November 2026 |
| Matchdays 5 & 6 | 22 – 30 March 2027 |
The full 24-team lineup will be confirmed by end of March 2027. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are already confirmed as co-hosts. See our complete qualifying schedule guide and our all 24 teams guide.
Why AFCON 2027 Is Historic
First co-hosted by three nations. No previous AFCON has been shared across three countries simultaneously. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda each host matches across seven stadiums and six cities.
East Africa’s first AFCON in 51 years. The last time East Africa hosted the tournament was Ethiopia in 1976. An entire generation of fans in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda has waited their whole lives for this moment.
The last biennial AFCON ever. CAF president Patrice Motsepe announced in December 2025 that AFCON moves to a quadrennial format from 2028. AFCON 2027 is the 36th edition and the last to be held every two years. After this, the tournament will be held every four years — the same cycle as the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship. See our full guide to why AFCON 2027 is the last of its kind.
Best player availability in AFCON history. AFCON 2027 runs in the European summer — 19 June to 17 July — meaning European club seasons will be fully complete before a single match is played. Victor Osimhen, Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, Riyad Mahrez and Sadio Mane will all be available, rested and at full strength.
Tickets — When Do They Go on Sale?
Official AFCON 2027 ticket sales are expected to open between August and October 2026 via tickets.cafonline.com. No official announcement has been made yet. To be ready when sales open:
- Register an account at tickets.cafonline.com now — mandatory before any purchase
- Get a Visa card — gives 48-hour exclusive presale access before the general public
- Bookmark our ticket release date guide — updated immediately when CAF announces
See our ticket prices guide for expected costs in TZS, KES and UGX and our how to buy tickets guide for the full step-by-step process.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is AFCON 2027?
AFCON 2027 runs from Saturday 19 June to Saturday 17 July 2027.
Who is hosting AFCON 2027?
Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda are co-hosting AFCON 2027 — the first time three nations have jointly hosted the tournament.
Where is AFCON 2027 being held?
Across seven stadiums in six cities: Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar in Tanzania; Nairobi in Kenya; Kampala and Hoima in Uganda.
What is the AFCON 2027 schedule?
Group stage runs 19–30 June 2027. Round of 16: 2–5 July. Quarter-finals: 7–8 July. Semi-finals: 11–12 July. Final: 17 July 2027.
Which country is hosting the AFCON 2027 final?
Not yet confirmed by CAF. The leading candidate is Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam (60,000). CAF will announce the final venue separately. See our AFCON 2027 final guide.
When do AFCON 2027 qualifying matches start?
Qualifying begins 21 September 2026. The full 24-team lineup is confirmed by end of March 2027.
How many teams are in AFCON 2027?
24 teams — three qualify automatically as co-hosts (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda) and 21 qualify through the 12-group qualifying campaign.
Is AFCON 2027 the last biennial AFCON?
Yes. CAF announced in December 2025 that AFCON moves to a quadrennial (four-year) cycle from 2028. AFCON 2027 is the last edition to be held every two years.
For all AFCON 2027 stadiums see our complete stadiums guide. For tickets see our tickets guide. For the complete fixture list see our fixtures guide. For the opening match see our opening match guide. For our tournament predictions see our predictions guide.
Tournament dates confirmed by CAF official statement 2 May 2026, approved by FIFA Council in Vancouver. Host nation confirmed by CAF 27 September 2023. Qualifying draw confirmed by CAF 19 May 2026 in Cairo. Qualifying schedule confirmed by CAF. This page will be updated as further details are announced.