Preparations are gathering pace in East Africa following the official confirmation that the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be staged from June 19 to July 17, marking a major milestone for the region’s football landscape.
The tournament, approved by FIFA and Confederation of African Football, will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania under the “Pamoja” banner—symbolising unity.
This edition is set to be groundbreaking, as it will be the first time the tournament is hosted across three nations, and the first return of AFCON to East Africa in over 50 years.
With the dates now locked in, focus is shifting to preparations on the ground. The three host countries are expected to accelerate upgrades to stadiums, transport systems, and hospitality infrastructure to meet continental and global standards.
Meanwhile, the road to the tournament will soon begin taking shape. The qualification draw is anticipated after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with matches scheduled between September and November 2026 as teams battle for a place in the 24-nation competition.
The 2027 tournament will maintain the mid-year schedule introduced in recent editions, following the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, aligning Africa’s flagship football event with the global football calendar.
As anticipation builds, the “Pamoja” edition is being positioned not just as a football tournament, but as a showcase of regional cooperation and continental unity.
