AFCON 2027 Media Rights — Key Facts
- Tender opened: August 2026 by CAF
- Bidding deadline: 5:00 PM Cairo time, September 14, 2026
- Rights coverage: Sub-Saharan Africa broadcast partner
- Tournament format: 28 teams (expanded from 24)
- Tournament dates: 19 June – 17 July 2027
- Announcement expected: October–December 2026
Summary: CAF has opened bidding for AFCON 2027 broadcast rights with a September 14, 2026 deadline. The tender covers Sub-Saharan African broadcast rights for the 28-team tournament in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Existing global partners including beIN Sports, Canal+, SuperSport and New World TV are all expected to bid.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for AFCON 2027 broadcast rights, giving interested broadcasters and media companies until September 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM Cairo time to submit their bids. The tender covers one of Africa’s most valuable sports broadcasting properties and the announcement marks a critical milestone in the countdown to East Africa’s first AFCON in 51 years.
What CAF Is Selling
The AFCON 2027 media rights tender covers broadcast, streaming and digital distribution rights across Sub-Saharan Africa — the tournament’s most valuable and passionate viewing region. CAF has issued a request for proposals from parties interested in securing these rights, which will cover the tournament set to take place across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The tender includes:
- Live broadcast rights for all 52 tournament matches
- Highlights and news access rights
- Streaming and digital distribution rights
- Regional sub-licensing rights within Sub-Saharan Africa
- Commercial exploitation rights within the territory
Who Is Expected to Bid
Based on AFCON 2025 rights holders and existing CAF partnerships, several major broadcasters are expected to submit competitive bids for AFCON 2027:
| Broadcaster | Region | Track record |
|---|---|---|
| New World TV | Togo-based · Sub-Saharan Africa | Held exclusive Sub-Saharan rights for AFCON 2023–2025 |
| SuperSport (MultiChoice) | Sub-Saharan Africa | Broadcast every AFCON edition 1992–2021; lost 2023 rights |
| Canal+ | Francophone Africa | Long-standing CAF broadcast partner across French-speaking markets |
| beIN Sports | MENA · Europe · North America | Held AFCON rights across MENA, USA, Canada and Australia |
| Azam TV | East Africa (Tanzania base) | Regional East African pay-TV with strong Tanzania presence |
| SABC Sport | South Africa | Free-to-air AFCON coverage in South Africa |
The bidding will likely be most competitive between New World TV (the incumbent Sub-Saharan rights holder) and SuperSport (which is actively trying to regain the rights it held for three decades before losing them ahead of AFCON 2023).
Why This Matters for Fans
The outcome of the tender directly affects how millions of African fans will watch AFCON 2027. Different broadcasters mean different subscription requirements, different commentary languages and different levels of free-to-air access. For fans in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda — the host nations — the outcome is particularly important because it determines what package or subscription local fans will need to follow the tournament happening on their doorstep.
Key questions the tender will answer over the coming weeks:
- Will there be free-to-air coverage in East Africa? National broadcasters TBC Tanzania, KBC Kenya and UBC Uganda are expected to secure at least partial free-to-air rights for host nation matches
- Will SuperSport reclaim Sub-Saharan rights? After losing exclusive rights to New World TV for AFCON 2023–2025, MultiChoice is under pressure to secure AFCON 2027 or risk losing subscribers
- What will streaming look like? CAF has been expanding its own digital platform CAF TV and may retain some streaming rights for direct-to-consumer distribution
Where Fans Will Watch — Confirmed and Expected Broadcasters
While the Sub-Saharan African rights are still under tender, several international broadcasters are already expected to hold rights based on their AFCON 2025 deals and existing multi-year CAF agreements:
| Region | Expected broadcaster | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Middle East & North Africa | beIN Sports | Long-standing CAF partner — expected to renew |
| USA / Canada / Australia | beIN Sports (Fubo, Fanatiz) | Existing multi-year rights — expected to continue |
| United Kingdom | TBC — Channel 4 held AFCON 2025 rights | Under discussion — Channel 4 free-to-air deal was historic |
| France | beIN Sports France | Confirmed CAF partner |
| Germany / Austria / Switzerland | Sportdigital / DAZN | Held AFCON 2025 rights |
| Netherlands | Ziggo Sport | Held AFCON 2025 rights |
| Italy | Sportitalia | Held AFCON 2025 rights |
| Spain | LaLiga+ streaming | Held AFCON 2024/25 rights |
| India / Asia | FanCode | Streaming rights for AFCON 2025 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | TBC — CAF tender open until Sep 14 | Bidding in progress |
See our complete AFCON 2027 broadcast guide by country for the full country-by-country picture of how to watch the tournament wherever you are.
The Commercial Backdrop — Why AFCON 2027 Rights Are Valuable
AFCON 2027 will be the most commercially significant edition of the tournament ever staged. Three factors combine to make the media rights particularly valuable:
1. Expanded format. With 28 teams instead of 24, there are more matches, more national fan bases engaged and more broadcast content over the tournament window. The expansion adds four additional group stage matches, increasing total tournament content.
2. East African hosting. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda combined represent over 150 million people — a massive audience that has never had a home AFCON to follow. Broadcaster demand from the region will be unprecedented.
3. Global African diaspora. AFCON 2025 in Morocco was watched by record international audiences, particularly in France, the UK, the Netherlands, the US and the Middle East where African diaspora communities are concentrated. Every rights holder in these markets has reason to bid for AFCON 2027.
What Happens Next — Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| August 2026 | Bidding officially opened by CAF |
| 14 September 2026 | Deadline for broadcasters to submit bids (5:00 PM Cairo time) |
| 21 September 2026 | AFCON 2027 qualifying begins — broadcaster interest peaks |
| October–December 2026 | Expected announcement of successful bidders |
| Q1 2027 | Rights rollout, marketing campaigns, viewing platforms confirmed |
| 19 June 2027 | AFCON 2027 opens — full broadcast coverage begins |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch AFCON 2027?
Official broadcast rights for AFCON 2027 are still being finalised. Based on existing CAF partnerships, expected broadcasters include SuperSport, Canal+, beIN Sports and New World TV in Africa; beIN Sports in MENA and North America; Sportdigital and DAZN in Germany; Ziggo Sport in the Netherlands; Channel 4 or Sky Sports in the UK; and FanCode in India. See our complete broadcast guide by country.
When will AFCON 2027 broadcast rights be confirmed?
CAF’s tender for Sub-Saharan African rights closes on September 14, 2026 at 5:00 PM Cairo time. Successful bidders are typically announced within 8 to 12 weeks of the deadline — meaning full rights confirmation is expected between October and December 2026.
Will AFCON 2027 be free to air in the UK?
AFCON 2025 was broadcast free to air on Channel 4 in the UK — the first time the tournament had been free to air in the country. Whether Channel 4 or another UK broadcaster secures free-to-air rights for AFCON 2027 has not yet been confirmed.
Will SuperSport show AFCON 2027?
SuperSport lost exclusive Sub-Saharan African AFCON rights ahead of AFCON 2023 after failing to secure a sub-licensing agreement with New World TV. MultiChoice is expected to bid competitively for AFCON 2027 rights but the outcome depends on CAF’s tender decision expected in October–December 2026.
Where can I watch AFCON 2027 in Tanzania?
Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) is expected to secure at least partial free-to-air rights for AFCON 2027 as the host nation broadcaster. Azam TV is expected to hold pay-TV rights. The final broadcast structure will be confirmed once CAF’s tender decision is announced.
How much are AFCON 2027 broadcast rights worth?
CAF does not publicly disclose broadcast rights fees. However, industry analysts estimate the Sub-Saharan African rights package alone is likely to attract bids in the tens of millions of US dollars given the tournament’s expansion to 28 teams and the East African hosting market opportunity.
For the complete country-by-country broadcast guide see our AFCON 2027 broadcast guide. For the tournament dates and format see our dates and schedule guide. For the 28-team expansion details see our format expansion article. For tickets see our tickets guide.
Bidding process confirmed by CAF via official tender announcement, August 2026. Sources: Morocco World News, Sportcal, OkayAfrica, Africa Soccer. Expected broadcasters based on AFCON 2025 rights holders and existing CAF partnership network. This page will be updated when CAF announces the successful bidders for AFCON 2027 broadcast rights.