2 May 2026
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the dates for the opening and final matches of the historic 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
In a statement published on its official website, CAF confirmed that the tournament will take place during the summer months. The opening match will be held on June 19, 2027, while the final will be played on July 17 of the same year.
CAF also noted that the host country for the opening and final matches will be announced at a later date. The tournament is expected to attract more than 400 million viewers across East Africa.
CAF further stated that the draw for the final qualifying round will take place on May 19, following the conclusion of the preliminary round matches.
CAF's statement also indicated that the draw for the final qualifying round will be held on May 19, following the completion of the preliminary stage. The 48 participating teams in the final round of qualifiers will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the finals.
The upcoming tournament will be the first to be held in three different countries and the second to be held in the summer, following the 2019 edition in Egypt.
The Africa Cup of Nations is also expected to return to East Africa for the first time since the 1976 edition in Ethiopia.
