AFCON 2027 — officially known as TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 — will be hosted by three East African nations: Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. The tournament runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027, making it 29 days of African football across three countries. It is the first AFCON held in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted in 1976 — a 51-year wait that makes this edition genuinely historic.
Who Is Hosting AFCON 2027?
Three nations are co-hosting AFCON 2027 under the PAMOJA banner — a Swahili word meaning “together.” This is the first time in AFCON history that the tournament has been co-hosted by more than one nation.
| Nation | Status | Host Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | Lead host — most matches | Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Zanzibar |
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | Co-host | Nairobi |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | Co-host | Kampala |
All three nations qualify automatically for the final tournament as co-hosts. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda do not need to go through qualifying — they have guaranteed berths in the 24-team final tournament regardless of their qualifying results.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe has been unequivocal about the tournament going ahead. Speaking in Tanzania, Motsepe confirmed: “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 both paid their required CAF hosting fees. Kenya has been working to meet its financial obligations to CAF ahead of the tournament.
AFCON 2027 Opening Match Date
The AFCON 2027 opening match is scheduled for 19 June 2027. The opening ceremony and first match of the tournament will take place at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — the largest venue of the tournament with a capacity of 60,000.
The opening match has not been officially confirmed by CAF but is widely expected to feature Tanzania Taifa Stars as the lead host nation. Tanzania are in Group L alongside Nigeria, Algeria and Madagascar. A Tanzania home match on opening night at a sold-out Mkapa Stadium would be one of the great moments in East African football history.
AFCON 2027 Tournament Dates — Full Schedule by Stage
| Stage | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Group Stage | 19 June – 30 June 2027 | 36 matches |
| Round of 16 | 3 July – 6 July 2027 | 8 matches |
| Quarter-finals | 9 July – 10 July 2027 | 4 matches |
| Semi-finals | 13 July – 14 July 2027 | 2 matches |
| Third Place Play-off | 17 July 2027 | 1 match |
| Final | 17 July 2027 | 1 match |
The tournament spans 29 days from the opening match on 19 June to the final on 17 July 2027. All matches are played in East Africa Time — EAT, which is UTC+3. For fans travelling from Europe that is the same as Central European Summer Time. For fans from West Africa it is one to two hours ahead of your local time.
AFCON 2027 Host Cities — Complete Guide
🇹🇿 Tanzania — Lead Host
Tanzania hosts the most matches of the three co-host nations across four venues in three cities. It is the most diverse host nation of AFCON 2027 — a coastal metropolis, a highland safari city and an island UNESCO World Heritage Site all within the same country.
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania’s largest city and commercial capital. Population 4 million. Home to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium — the tournament’s flagship 60,000-capacity venue. The opening match, multiple group stage fixtures, knockout rounds and potentially the semi-final will all be played here. The Msasani Peninsula area is where most visiting fans will stay — international hotels, restaurants, fan zones and easy access to the stadium.
Arusha — the safari capital of East Africa, located at the foot of Mount Meru and 80km from Mount Kilimanjaro. The Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium (30,000 capacity) has been fully modernised for AFCON 2027. Combining an AFCON match in Arusha with a Serengeti or Ngorongoro safari is one of the most extraordinary experiences available anywhere in world football.
Zanzibar — a UNESCO World Heritage archipelago hosting AFCON matches for the first time in history. Stone Town, white sand beaches and the Indian Ocean provide the most visually spectacular setting of any AFCON venue ever. Two venues — the renovated Amaan Stadium (15,000) and brand new Maisara Sports Complex (25,000) — host group stage matches on the island.
🇰🇪 Kenya — Co-host
Kenya hosts matches in Nairobi at the Talanta Stadium. Kenya are in Group D of qualifying alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. As co-hosts they also qualify automatically. Nairobi is a major East African hub with excellent flight connections from across Africa and beyond — many fans attending AFCON 2027 will fly through Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
🇺🇬 Uganda — Co-host
Uganda hosts matches in Kampala. Uganda are in Group H of qualifying alongside Tunisia, Libya and Botswana. Like Tanzania and Kenya they qualify automatically as co-hosts. Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium and Phillip Omondi Stadium are the designated venues.
AFCON 2027 Venues — Complete List
| Stadium | City | Country | Capacity | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Mkapa Stadium | Dar es Salaam | Tanzania 🇹🇿 | 60,000 | Renovated — Main venue |
| Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium | Arusha | Tanzania 🇹🇿 | 30,000 | Renovated 2025 |
| Amaan Stadium | Zanzibar City | Tanzania 🇹🇿 | 15,000 | Renovating for AFCON |
| Maisara Sports Complex | Zanzibar | Tanzania 🇹🇿 | 25,000 | New build |
| Talanta Stadium | Nairobi | Kenya 🇰🇪 | 60,000 | New build |
| Mandela National Stadium | Kampala | Uganda 🇺🇬 | 45,000 | Renovating |
| Phillip Omondi Stadium | Kampala | Uganda 🇺🇬 | 35,000 | Renovating |
Why East Africa — The PAMOJA Story
PAMOJA means together in Swahili — and it is the most fitting name CAF could have chosen for this tournament. The co-hosting arrangement between Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda represents something beyond football. Three East African nations that share borders, culture, language and history coming together to host the continent’s greatest football tournament for the first time.
East Africa has waited a long time for this moment. The last time AFCON was held in the region was 1976 when Ethiopia hosted. That is 51 years. An entire generation of East African football fans who have watched every AFCON tournament held in West Africa, North Africa and Southern Africa — but never at home. PAMOJA 2027 changes that.
The economic and tourism impact is also significant. Tanzania alone expects hundreds of thousands of visitors during the tournament period. Hotel bookings, flights, safaris, restaurant revenue and the global broadcast attention that comes with hosting AFCON will transform East Africa’s profile as a football destination.
AFCON 2027 Teams — The Groups
24 teams compete at AFCON 2027 — three automatic co-hosts and 21 teams through qualifying. The qualifying group draw took place on 19 May 2026. Tanzania are in Group L — the group that will generate the most interest for fans travelling to Dar es Salaam.
| Group | Teams |
|---|---|
| Group A | Morocco 🇲🇦, Gabon 🇬🇦, Niger 🇳🇪, Lesotho 🇱🇸 |
| Group B | Egypt 🇪🇬, Angola 🇦🇴, Malawi 🇲🇼, South Sudan 🇸🇸 |
| Group C | Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮, Ghana 🇬🇭, The Gambia 🇬🇲, Somalia 🇸🇴 |
| Group D | South Africa 🇿🇦, Guinea 🇬🇳, Kenya 🇰🇪, Eritrea 🇪🇷 |
| Group E | Congo DR 🇨🇩, Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶, Sierra Leone 🇸🇱, Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 |
| Group F | Burkina Faso 🇧🇫, Benin 🇧🇯, Mauritania 🇲🇷, Central African Republic 🇨🇫 |
| Group G | Cameroon 🇨🇲, Comoros 🇰🇲, Namibia 🇳🇦, Congo 🇨🇬 |
| Group H | Tunisia 🇹🇳, Uganda 🇺🇬, Libya 🇱🇾, Botswana 🇧🇼 |
| Group I | Algeria 🇩🇿, Zambia 🇿🇲, Togo 🇹🇬, Burundi 🇧🇮 |
| Group J | Senegal 🇸🇳, Mozambique 🇲🇿, Sudan 🇸🇩, Ethiopia 🇪🇹 |
| Group K | Mali 🇲🇱, Cape Verde 🇨🇻, Rwanda 🇷🇼, Liberia 🇱🇷 |
| Group L 🇹🇿 | Tanzania 🇹🇿, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Algeria 🇩🇿, Madagascar 🇲🇬 |
How to Attend AFCON 2027
Attending AFCON 2027 in Tanzania requires planning across four areas — tickets, visa, flights and accommodation. Here is where to start:
Tickets — not yet on sale as of June 2026. CAF is expected to open official ticket sales between August and October 2026 at tickets.cafonline.com. Register your CAF account now so you are ready the moment sales open. Tanzania home matches will sell out within hours. See our complete ticket guide for full details.
Visa — most African nationals can apply for a Tanzania eVisa online at visa.immigration.go.tz. Cost is $50 USD single entry. Apply at least 3 to 4 weeks before travel. See our practical info guide for the full visa process.
Flights — Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam (DAR) is the main entry point for Tanzania. Direct flights from major African hubs including Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Cairo and Johannesburg. Book early — flights during tournament period will be significantly more expensive and limited.
Accommodation — Msasani Peninsula and Masaki in Dar es Salaam are the recommended areas for visiting fans — closest to Benjamin Mkapa Stadium and the main fan zones. Book as early as possible. AFCON 2027 will create unprecedented demand for accommodation in all three host cities. See our city guides for area breakdowns and what to expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does AFCON 2027 start?
AFCON 2027 starts on 19 June 2027 with the opening match at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
When does AFCON 2027 end?
AFCON 2027 ends on 17 July 2027 with the third place play-off and final.
Which country is hosting AFCON 2027?
Three countries are co-hosting AFCON 2027 — Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda — under the PAMOJA banner.
Where is the AFCON 2027 final?
The venue for the AFCON 2027 final has not yet been officially confirmed by CAF. Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam is the largest and most prominent venue and the most likely host for the final.
How many teams are in AFCON 2027?
24 teams compete at AFCON 2027 — the same format used since AFCON 2019.
Is Tanzania automatically qualified for AFCON 2027?
Yes. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda all qualify automatically as co-host nations and do not need to go through the qualifying process.
Last updated: June 2026. All dates and venue information based on CAF official announcements. This page will be updated as further details are confirmed.