AFCON 2027 Guide: Dates, Host Cities, Format and How Qualifying Works

The Africa Cup of Nations is coming to East Africa. In less than nine months, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the 36th edition of the continent's biggest football tournament, the first AFCON ever shared between three countries.

Here is a simple guide to AFCON 2027: when it starts, where matches will be played, how qualifying works and what it means for Harambee Stars.

When Is AFCON 2027?

CAF has confirmed that AFCON 2027 will kick off on Saturday, June 19, 2027, with the final on Saturday, July 17, 2027. The dates were approved by the FIFA Council at its meeting in Vancouver earlier this year.

Playing in mid-year means the tournament avoids clashing with the European club season, so clubs have fewer reasons to hold back African players. When CAF announced the dates, it said the host country for the opening match and the final would be named later.

A Historic Pamoja Tournament

The joint bid, known as Pamoja, makes history in two ways. It is the first AFCON staged by three nations, and it brings the tournament back to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted in 1976. CAF expects the event to reach more than 400 million people across the region.

The three countries already worked together on the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), played in early 2025, which served as a dress rehearsal for stadiums, security and transport.

AFCON 2027 Host Cities

• Kenya: Nairobi, Eldoret and Kakamega are the proposed host cities.
• Tanzania: Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Dodoma and Zanzibar are expected to stage matches.
• Uganda: the new Hoima City Stadium is among the venues being upgraded to meet CAF standards.

Spreading games across several cities is meant to share the economic benefits and give fans outside the capitals a chance to watch top African football live. Final venue lists still depend on CAF inspections.

How AFCON 2027 Qualifying Works

Forty-eight teams, including the three hosts, are taking part in the qualifiers, which are played over three international windows:

• Matchdays 1 and 2: September 21 to October 6, 2026 (completed)
• Matchdays 3 and 4: November 9 to 17, 2026
• Matchdays 5 and 6: March 22 to 30, 2027

In most groups, the top two teams qualify. The groups containing Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are different: the hosts are already through, so only one other team from each of those groups joins them at the finals. That makes the host groups some of the most cut-throat in qualifying.

At the finals, AFCON has used a 24-team format since 2019: six groups of four, with the group winners, runners-up and the four best third-placed teams advancing to the round of 16.

What It Means for Harambee Stars

Kenya's place at the finals is guaranteed, but the qualifiers still matter. They are the best competitive preparation Benni McCarthy's side will get before June. So far the results have been worrying: Kenya have one point from their first two Group D games after a 1-0 defeat to Guinea in Conakry, and they have slipped in the FIFA rankings.

The November and March windows give McCarthy four more competitive matches to settle on a first-choice XI and build confidence in front of home fans who will expect a deep run.

Where to Watch the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

beIN Sports holds the broadcast rights for the qualifiers and the final tournament. Local free-to-air arrangements in Kenya are usually announced closer to each match.

Who Are the Defending Champions?

Senegal arrive in East Africa as holders after beating hosts Morocco in the AFCON 2025 final at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Expect them, Morocco and the usual heavyweights to be among the favourites next June.

Bookmark Scorer254 for AFCON 2027 news, Harambee Stars squad updates and stadium progress reports as the tournament approaches.