The governing body of football in Africa, CAF, has announced the kick-off and closing dates for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be hosted in three countries.
CAF confirmed the dates via a communiqué on its website on Wednesday, 8 April 2026. According to the organisation, the new dates are official while the teams continue with their qualifying matches.
What is the date for AFCON 2027?
The continent’s biggest football tournament will run from June 19 to July 18, 2027.
This marks the first time in AFCON history that three countries will co-host the tournament, signalling CAF’s growing ambition to expand the competition’s reach and infrastructure across the continent. The scheduling of the tournament in mid-year reflects CAF’s ongoing effort to align AFCON with the global football calendar.
By hosting the competition in June and July, the governing body aims to minimise disruption to European club seasons while ensuring optimal playing conditions for teams. This approach has become increasingly important as more African players compete at the highest levels of world football.
However, the last edition of the competition is yet to be decided, as CAF recently declared Morocco the winner, despite Senegal winning the match on the pitch.
The case is currently in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), which will review the evidence presented to decide who is the champion of the 2025 AFCON.