CAF Sets 2027 AFCON Dates for Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda

The Confederation of African Football announced on Saturday that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will run from June 19 to July 17, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in a historic first for the tournament.

The dates, approved by the FIFA Council during its meeting in Vancouver, Canada, set the opening match for Saturday, June 19, 2027, and the final for Saturday, July 17, 2027. CAF stated it will reveal later which of the three nations will host those key fixtures once planning is finalized. The tournament marks the first time AFCON will be shared by three countries and returns the event to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted in 1976.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe addressed earlier concerns about the hosts' readiness, which had raised the possibility of a delay to 2028. "We have worked hard to ensure that the AFCON is held in East Africa, and our commitment remains unwavering. I am confident that we will organise a very successful AFCON in these three countries," Motsepe said.

Qualification for the finals is underway, with the preliminary round complete. A draw on May 19, 2026, will place 48 teams, including the three co-hosts, into 12 groups of four. The top...