The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the official dates and match schedule framework for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
According to the tournament calendar approved by the FIFA Council during a meeting in Vancouver, the competition will kick off on Saturday, June 19, 2027.
CAF has also scheduled the official draw for the qualification phase on May 19, 2026. A total of 48 teams, including the three co-host nations, will take part in the qualifiers.
The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the final tournament.
The qualification matches will be played across three international windows. The first round will take place between September 21 and October 6, 2026, followed by matches from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final round of qualifiers is set for March 22 to 30, 2027.
CAF has identified key stadiums under the Pamoja Bid that will be considered for major matches, including the opening and final fixtures.
These include the 60,000-seat Talanta Stadium, Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, and Mandela National Stadium.
In Kenya, additional venues include Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, Nyayo National Stadium, and Kipchoge Keino Stadium, which will serve as match or training facilities.
Tanzania will host games at the new stadium in Arusha and Amaan Stadium, while Uganda will rely on facilities in Hoima, Lira, and the revamped Nakivubo Stadium.
Further details on match fixtures, including venues for the opening and final games, are expected to be confirmed after the completion of the qualification process.
