The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has officially announced the kick-off and final dates for the historic TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027, set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Opening and Final Match Dates Confirmed
The tournament will kick off on Saturday, 19 June 2027, with the final scheduled for Saturday, 17 July 2027.
These dates were approved by the FIFA Council during its recent meeting in Vancouver. CAF is yet to confirm which host nation will stage the opening match and the final.
A Historic First for African Football
AFCON PAMOJA 2027 will mark a historic milestone as the first edition of the tournament to be jointly hosted by three countries. The event is expected to reach over 400 million people across the East African region, highlighting the growing influence and commercial appeal of African football.
Notably, this will be the first time the competition returns to East Africa since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976.
Qualification Journey Begins
The road to AFCON 2027 is already underway, with the qualifiers draw scheduled for 19 May 2026. A total of 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, will compete for a place in the final tournament.
Qualifiers Format
- 48 teams will be divided into 12 groups of four
- The top two teams from each group will qualify for the tournament
Match Schedule
- Matchdays 1 & 2: 21 September – 6 October 2026
- Matchdays 3 & 4: 9 – 17 November 2026
- Matchdays 5 & 6: 22 – 30 March 2027
- Building on Recent AFCON Success
The 2027 edition aims to build on the success of recent tournaments, including:
- AFCON Côte d’Ivoire 2023
- AFCON Morocco 2025
Both editions recorded significant commercial growth, increased sponsorship deals, and global broadcast reach, further cementing AFCON’s status as one of the most exciting football tournaments worldwide.
