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AFCON 2027 Host Country — Which Country is Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations?

📅 23 Jun 2026 ⏱ 8 min read ✍️ AFCON Tanzania Guide

Which Country Is Hosting AFCON 2027?

Three countries are hosting AFCON 2027 — Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 under the name TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027. PAMOJA means “together” in Swahili — reflecting the first ever co-hosted AFCON in the tournament’s history.

Host NationHost CitiesStadiumsStatus
🇹🇿 Tanzania — Lead hostDar es Salaam, Arusha, ZanzibarBenjamin Mkapa, Samia Suluhu Hassan, Amaan, Fumba CityAutomatic qualifier — co-host
🇰🇪 Kenya — Co-hostNairobiTalanta Stadium, Moi International Sports CentreAutomatic qualifier — co-host
🇺🇬 Uganda — Co-hostKampalaMandela National StadiumAutomatic qualifier — co-host

Why Three Countries?

AFCON 2027 is the first edition of the Africa Cup of Nations ever co-hosted by more than one nation. CAF awarded the tournament to the joint East African bid in 2022, selecting Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda over rival bids. The PAMOJA co-hosting arrangement reflects East Africa’s collective ambition to host the continent’s greatest football tournament and share the economic and tourism benefits across the region.

All three co-host nations qualify automatically for the final tournament — they do not need to go through the qualifying process regardless of their results in the qualifying campaign.

Tanzania — The Lead Host

Tanzania hosts the most matches of the three nations and is the tournament’s symbolic and operational centrepiece. As the largest co-host by venue count — four stadiums across three cities — Tanzania carries the highest profile matches including the opening ceremony and potentially the final.

Tanzania is placed in Group L alongside Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar. All Tanzania home matches are played at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam — a 60,000-capacity venue currently undergoing major renovation, 95% complete as of June 2026.

Tanzania Host Cities

CityStadiumCapacityCharacter
Dar es SalaamBenjamin Mkapa Stadium60,000Coastal metropolis — main tournament hub
ArushaSamia Suluhu Hassan Stadium30,000Safari capital — gateway to Serengeti
ZanzibarFumba City Stadium36,500Island UNESCO heritage — first ever AFCON island venue
ZanzibarNew Amaan Sports Complex15,000Historic stadium — renovated 2023

Kenya — Co-host

Kenya hosts matches in Nairobi at two venues — the brand new Talanta Stadium (60,000 capacity, 91% complete as of June 2026) and the renovated Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani (48,000). Kenya is in Group D of qualifying alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea — and qualifies automatically as co-host regardless of their qualifying results.

Nairobi serves as the primary entry hub for many AFCON 2027 visitors — Jomo Kenyatta International Airport is one of Africa’s best-connected airports with direct flights from across the continent and beyond.

Uganda — Co-host

Uganda hosts matches in Kampala at Mandela National Stadium (45,000), currently undergoing renovation for AFCON 2027. Uganda is in Group H of qualifying alongside Tunisia, Libya and Botswana — and also qualifies automatically as co-host.

Uganda’s tourism highlight for visiting fans is mountain gorilla trekking in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest — one of the rarest wildlife experiences on earth and within reach of Kampala for fans attending matches there.

Is AFCON 2027 Definitely Going Ahead?

Yes — confirmed. CAF President Patrice Motsepe has been unequivocal: “I know AFCON will be staged here. We have done a lot to have AFCON held in East Africa and our commitment remains.” Tanzania and Uganda have paid their required CAF hosting fees. Stadium construction is well advanced across all three nations — Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha is over 80% complete and Kenya’s Talanta Stadium in Nairobi has reached 91% completion.

Why East Africa — The PAMOJA Story

The last time AFCON was held in East Africa was 1976 — when Ethiopia hosted. That is a 51-year wait. An entire generation of East African football fans have watched every AFCON held in West Africa, North Africa and Southern Africa — never at home. PAMOJA 2027 ends that wait.

The economic impact is equally significant. The tournament is projected to generate over $2 billion in combined economic impact across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Over 300,000 tourists per day are expected in Tanzania during the tournament period.

AFCON 2027 Key Facts

DetailInformation
Official nameTotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027
Host nationsTanzania 🇹🇿 · Kenya 🇰🇪 · Uganda 🇺🇬
Tournament dates19 June – 17 July 2027
Number of teams24
Number of matches52
Opening match19 June 2027 — Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam
Final17 July 2027
Total stadiums7 across three nations
Largest venueBenjamin Mkapa Stadium — 60,000
Tournament brandPAMOJA — “together” in Swahili
Last AFCON in East Africa1976 — Ethiopia

Attending AFCON 2027

For fans planning to attend — tickets, visas and flights need to be sorted well in advance. Here is where to start:

  • Tickets — not yet on sale as of June 2026. Expected August–October 2026 via tickets.cafonline.com. See our complete ticket buying guide.
  • Visa — Tanzania eVisa available at visa.immigration.go.tz for most African nations. $50 USD single entry. Apply 3–4 weeks ahead. See our practical info guide.
  • Flights — 25 airlines serve Dar es Salaam. Book now — tournament period fares will be 2x to 3x normal. See our flights guide.
  • Accommodation — book immediately. Hotels near Benjamin Mkapa Stadium will sell out months ahead. See our Dar es Salaam accommodation guide.

For the complete host cities and dates breakdown visit our host countries and dates guide. For all seven AFCON 2027 stadiums see our stadiums guide. For the full fixture list see our fixtures page.

All information sourced from CAF official announcements, Tanzania Football Federation and verified stadium construction data as of June 2026.

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