Officially: Africa Cup of Nations 2027 Dates and Qualification System

The Confederation of African Football "CAF" announced the schedule for the historic 2027 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, which will be jointly hosted for the first time by three countries: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. This edition marks the return of the African football spectacle to the East African region for the first time in over five decades.

Opening and Final Dates: A Hot African Summer in 2027

CAF confirmed in an official statement that the tournament will be held during the summer, to ensure maximum viewership and avoid clashes with European leagues. The Confederation set the following dates:

• Opening Match: It is scheduled for 19 June 2027.

• Final Match: It will take place on 17 July 2027.

The statement indicated that the host stadiums for the opening and closing ceremonies will be revealed at a later date, amid expectations that the tournament will attract the attention of more than 400 million people in the East African region alone.

'CAN 2027' Qualification System: 12 Groups for 48 Teams

The Confederation of African Football clarified that the draw for the final qualifiers will be held on 19 May, following the conclusion of the preliminary round. The qualification system will be as follows:

• 48 teams will be distributed into 12 groups.

Qualification Match Schedule: Roadmap to the Tournament

CAF specified three international windows for the six qualification rounds, and the dates are as follows:

1. Rounds One and Two: from 21 September to 6 October 2026.

2. Rounds Three and Four: from 9 to 17 November 2026.

3. Rounds Five and Six: from 22 to 30 March 2027.

A Historic Edition Breaking Records

The 2027 edition is historic by all measures; it is the first time the tournament has been awarded to three countries jointly, and the second time it will be held in summer after the Egypt 2019 edition. It also represents a symbolic return to East Africa, which has not hosted the tournament since the Ethiopia 1976 edition, thereby promoting the development of sports infrastructure in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.