The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially pulled back the curtain on the timeline for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament set to break new ground for the sport on the continent. In a recent announcement, the football governing body confirmed that the competition will kick off on Saturday, June 19, 2027, with the grand finale scheduled exactly a month later on July 17. While the dates are now set, the specific venues for the opening and closing ceremonies remain a subject of anticipation, as CAF plans to reveal which of the host nations will take those honors in the coming months.
This edition, famously dubbed “PAMOJA 2027,” marks a historic shift in how the tournament is organized. For the first time, three nations—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—will join forces to host Africa’s most prestigious football event. Beyond the action on the pitch, this collaborative effort is a strategic move to tap into the massive passion for the game in East Africa, reaching an estimated audience of over 400 million people across the region.
The road to the finals is already taking shape, with the qualification schedule now clearly defined. The official draw for the main qualifiers is set for May 19, 2026. A total of 48 national teams, including the three host countries who are participating in the qualifying rounds, will be split into 12 groups of four. Under the current format, the two best teams from each group will secure their passage to the main event.
Fans won’t have to wait long for the action to begin, as the qualifiers are packed into three intense FIFA international windows. The journey starts with Matchdays 1 and 2, scheduled between September 21 and October 6, 2026. This will be followed by the middle stages in November 2026, before the final tickets are punched during the last window in late March 2027. With the calendar now solidified, the excitement is already building for what promises to be a vibrant celebration of African unity and footballing talent.
