Confédération Africaine de Football President Patrice Motsepe today met with ministers and football leaders from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in Nairobi as preparations intensify for the historic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027).
The high-level meeting took place during the Joint Resolution signing ceremony, where leaders from the three East African nations reaffirmed their commitment to successfully co-hosting Africa’s premier football tournament in 2027 — the first time in history the competition will be staged by three countries.
The 2027 edition, officially titled TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027, is expected to become one of the most significant sporting events ever held in East Africa, with CAF estimating the tournament could reach more than 400 million people across the region.
Discussions during the Nairobi meeting focused on infrastructure development, transport connectivity, stadium readiness, security coordination and the long-term economic and social legacy expected from the competition.
The three governments also reiterated their commitment to delivering world-class facilities and ensuring the tournament leaves a lasting impact on football development, tourism and investment in the region.
CAF has already confirmed that the Opening Match of AFCON 2027 will be played on Saturday, 19 June 2027, while the Final is scheduled for Saturday, 17 July 2027. CAF will announce at a later stage which of the host nations will stage the opening fixture and final.
Attention is also beginning to shift towards the qualification campaign for the tournament. The official draw for the qualifiers is scheduled to take place on 19 May 2026 following the completion of the preliminary round.
A total of 48 nations, including hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will participate in the qualification process. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the finals.
The qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows, beginning with Matchdays One and Two between 21 September and 6 October 2026. Matchdays Three and Four are scheduled from 9 to 17 November 2026, while the final qualification matches will be played between 22 and 30 March 2027.
The return of AFCON to East Africa also carries historic significance. AFCON PAMOJA 2027 will mark the first time the continent’s biggest football tournament has been hosted in the region since Ethiopia staged the competition in 1976, ending a wait of more than 50 years.
CAF also highlighted the growing global stature of the Africa Cup of Nations, pointing to the commercial and broadcast success of recent tournaments, including 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
With key dates now confirmed and planning gathering momentum, East Africa’s preparations for AFCON PAMOJA 2027 are accelerating as the region gets ready to host a tournament expected to make history both on and off the pitch.
