The road to AFCON 2027 begins as qualifiers kick off
48 teams are chasing 21 places alongside hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Key points
- Qualifiers for AFCON 2027 began in September 2026, with 48 teams drawn into 12 groups in Cairo on 19 May.
- Matches are played in the September–October and November 2026 international windows and in March 2027.
- Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically as hosts; the finals run from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
The race to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is on. Qualifiers kicked off in September 2026, with teams chasing places at the first AFCON to be held in East Africa in more than 50 years.
How qualifying works
- 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four in Cairo on 19 May 2026.
- Matches are played across six matchdays: in the September–October 2026 window, in November 2026 and in March 2027.
- Normally the top two in each group qualify.
- Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically as co-hosts. In their groups, only the best other team goes through.
Stars to watch
Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Morocco's Brahim Díaz, Nigeria's Ademola Lookman and Ghana's Mohammed Kudus are among the big names in qualifying. One of the early headline fixtures was Côte d'Ivoire against Ghana on 24 September.
The finals
The tournament, branded Pamoja 2027, runs from 19 June to 17 July 2027 at venues across the three host countries. Morocco are the current champions, after CAF awarded them the disputed 2025 final. Read more about Kenya's preparations.
Sources
Spotted an error? Read our corrections policy or tell us.
