AFCON 2027 Preparations: Stadium Progress in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be played in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It is the first AFCON jointly hosted by three countries and the first time East Africa has staged the finals since Ethiopia in 1976. With 24 teams heading to the region, the race to finish stadiums, training grounds and roads is now entering its final stretch.

This guide tracks where each host country stands as of October 2026, based on the latest inspections and official updates.

CAF inspection: where the tournament stands

In September 2026, a Confederation of African Football (CAF) delegation spent eight days inspecting stadiums, training grounds, hotels, airports and transport across the three countries. The team included specialists in competitions, security, transport, media, broadcasting and logistics, alongside the three local organising committees.

CAF is not just checking whether stadiums are built. It wants to know whether each venue can handle everything a tournament match needs, from television production and media facilities to crowd control and match-day transport. CAF president Patrice Motsepe later visited Kenya's Talanta and Kasarani stadiums.

The three countries already have recent experience of working together after co-hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), and their organising committees sent observers to the most recent AFCON in Morocco.

Kenya: Talanta Stadium nears completion

Kenya's flagship venue is the 60,000-seat Talanta Sports City stadium in Nairobi, built under the Ministry of Defence. By early October 2026, the project was 94% complete, with the main stadium at 95%, outdoor training facilities at 92% and external works at 93%. Officials say it is on course to meet CAF's 31 December deadline, followed by about three months of testing before handover.

The project has become more expensive, with the estimated cost rising from Sh35 billion to Sh45.8 billion, which officials linked mainly to taxes and implementation costs. Roads serving the stadium are targeted for completion in April 2027.

Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, is Kenya's second main venue. Pitch work there was due by the end of October, with handover planned for December. Training venues include Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nyayo National Stadium, Police Sacco Stadium and Lang'ata, plus two training pitches each at Kasarani and Talanta. Sports Kenya says 210 hotels have applied to host teams and visitors.

Not everything is smooth. Members of Parliament have questioned whether roads, water supply, hospitals and crowd management will be ready in time, and whether disputes within the Football Kenya Federation could affect preparations. Some stakeholders have also raised concerns about the state of training grounds.

Tanzania: more than 80% complete

Tanzania will build its tournament around the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, which CAF inspected in September, and a new stadium in Arusha. Its tournament stadiums were reported to be more than 80% complete on average, with handover to CAF expected in January 2027.

Training facilities are about 75% complete, with five planned for each host location. In August, Prime Minister Mwigulu Nchemba ordered faster work at training grounds in Dar es Salaam, and road works in Arusha have been running around the clock to stay on schedule.

Uganda: Hoima City Stadium already open

Uganda has the most finished venue so far. Hoima City Stadium has been completed and commissioned, giving the country a ready-made tournament ground in the west.

Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and the Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira are due to be completed by the end of December 2026. Uganda expects 10 of its 12 training facilities to be ready by the end of the year, with the rest in January. In late September, State Minister for Sports Peter Ogwang ordered contractors to speed up work at venues in Gulu and Lira, citing slow progress.

What AFCON 2027 means for Kenyan football

Beyond the tournament itself, AFCON 2027 is a chance to leave lasting infrastructure: modern stadiums, better training pitches and improved transport. For Kenyan clubs, new and upgraded grounds could raise standards in the SportPesa Premier League long after the final whistle.

The bigger question is whether the facilities will be maintained and used after the tournament. Fans will be watching to see that the investment benefits local football, from grassroots to the national team.

Frequently asked questions

When is AFCON 2027?

AFCON 2027 runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

How many teams will play at AFCON 2027?

24 national teams will take part in the tournament.

What is the main AFCON 2027 stadium in Kenya?

Talanta Sports City stadium in Nairobi, a new 60,000-seat venue, is Kenya's flagship ground, with Kasarani as the second main venue.

This article was updated on 10 October 2026 with the latest stadium progress.