AFCON 2027: dates, host countries, stadiums and format

From 19 June to 17 July 2027, East Africa will host the 36th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations. For the first time in the tournament's history, it will be co-hosted by three countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Dates, stadiums, format, qualified teams: here is everything you need to know about AFCON 2027.

AFCON 2027: key facts

• Dates: 19 June to 17 July 2027
• Host countries: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
• Number of teams: 24
• Edition: the 36th in history
• Official bid name: "Pamoja", meaning "together" in Swahili

A historic edition

AFCON 2027 will make history in several ways:

• The first AFCON co-hosted by three countries. Until now, the tournament had been hosted by two countries at most, as in 2000 (Ghana and Nigeria) and 2012 (Gabon and Equatorial Guinea).
• The return to East Africa. The region has not hosted the tournament since Ethiopia in 1976, more than fifty years ago.
• The last AFCON in an odd-numbered year. In December 2025, CAF announced that the AFCON would become a four-yearly tournament from 2028. AFCON 2027 will therefore be the last edition played on the old schedule.

Host cities and stadiums

The tournament is expected to be played in six cities across the three host countries. The final list of stadiums, as well as the venues for the opening match and the final, is still to be confirmed by CAF. Here are the stadiums most frequently mentioned:

Tanzania - Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, Dar es Salaam (around 60,000 seats), one of the frontrunners to host the biggest games - Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium, Arusha (around 30,000 seats), a brand-new stadium near Mount Kilimanjaro - Zanzibar, which is also set to host matches

Kenya - Talanta Stadium (officially the Raila Odinga International Stadium), Nairobi (around 60,000 seats), a brand-new venue - Kasarani (Moi International Sports Centre), Nairobi

Uganda - Mandela National Stadium (Namboole), Kampala, renovated for the tournament - Hoima City Stadium, Hoima (around 20,000 seats), a new stadium near Lake Albert

This section will be updated as soon as CAF confirms the official list of stadiums.

Tournament format

Since 2019, the AFCON has been played with 24 teams, using this format:

• Group stage: 6 groups of 4 teams
• Qualification for the round of 16: the top two teams in each group, plus the four best third-placed teams
• Knockout stage: round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals and final

How do teams qualify?

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically as hosts. The other 21 places are decided through the qualifiers, played from September 2026 to March 2027.

The 48 teams in the qualifiers are split into 12 groups of 4. In most groups, the top two qualify. In the three groups that include a host nation, only the best of the other teams earns a ticket.

Follow the race for qualification in our article AFCON 2027 qualifiers: schedule, groups and favourites.

The hosts: Harambee Stars, Cranes and Taifa Stars

For Kenya's Harambee Stars, Uganda's Cranes and Tanzania's Taifa Stars, this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. None of the three has ever won the AFCON, but with passionate home crowds behind them, all three will dream of a memorable run. Learn more in our article Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania: AFCON 2027 hosts in the qualifiers.

Who are the favourites?

It is still too early to know every qualified team, but several major nations are among the favourites: Morocco, the reigning African champions following a CAF decision (an appeal is still pending before CAS), Senegal, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon. And the host nations, backed by their fans, could spring a surprise.

Read more

• AFCON winners list: every champion since 1957
• AFCON 2027 qualifiers: all Matchday 1 results
• African football team nicknames and what they mean

Who do you think will lift the trophy in July 2027? Tell us in the comments 👇