Africa's biggest football tournament, co-hosted by Kenya for the first
time, from 19 June to
17 July 2027. Three Nairobi stadiums,
24 nations and 52 matches across East Africa.
Here is everything we know, and the tools to plan your matchdays.
Kickoff: 19 June 2027 ·
245 days to go when this page was built.
Checked on 28 September 2026.
We only state what CAF, the federations or the governments have
announced; the rest is marked as waiting.
Confirmed
Dates: 19 June to 17 July 2027.
24 teams, 52 matches, 10 stadiums in 7 cities.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically as hosts.
Nairobi's venues: Raila Odinga International Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani and Nyayo National Stadium.
Morocco are the defending champions.
Still to be announced
Which stadiums host the opening match and the final.
The draw for the finals, and the match schedule.
Ticket prices and when sales open.
Whether fans will need a Fan ID, and any joint East African visa.
Official fan zones in Nairobi.
The first AFCON hosted by three countries, and the first in the CECAFA region (East and Central Africa) since Ethiopia in 1976. It is also the last to be played in an odd-numbered year: from 2028 the tournament moves to a four-year cycle.
Nairobi's three stadiums
New build · formerly Talanta Stadium (Talanta Sports City)
Raila Odinga International Stadium
60,000 seats
Jamhuri, off Ngong Road, about 10 km west of the CBD.
Kenya's largest stadium once complete
A roof shaped like the shield on Kenya's flag
52 executive suites, solar panels and rainwater harvesting
A contender to stage the opening match or the final
The rest of the tournament is played at
Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (Dar es Salaam), Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium (Arusha), Amaan Stadium (Zanzibar), Fumba Stadium (Zanzibar), Mandela National Stadium (Kampala), Hoima City Stadium (Hoima) and Akii Bua Stadium (Lira).
See travelling between the host cities.
Key dates
Qualifying draw in Cairo48 teams drawn into 12 groups. Kenya drawn in Group D with South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea.
Kenya 1-1 EritreaHarambee StarsQualifier at Nyayo National Stadium. Ryan Ogam equalised in the 87th minute.
Guinea v KenyaHarambee StarsQualifier in Conakry.
Kenya v South AfricaHarambee StarsNextQualifier in Nairobi. Venue to be confirmed.
November window closesMatchdays 3 and 4 of qualifying end.
Final qualifying window opensMatchdays 5 and 6, from 22 to 30 March 2027. The last qualifiers are decided.
Qualifying endsThe 24 teams are known.
To be announcedFinal tournament drawGroups for the finals. Date and venue to be announced by CAF.
To be announcedTicket sales openThrough CAF's official channels. Date and prices to be announced.
Kick-offThe opening match. Venue to be confirmed by CAF.
The finalVenue to be confirmed by CAF.
Harambee Stars
Kenya are in the finals as co-hosts, coached by Benni McCarthy
since March 2025. They still play qualifying Group
D against South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea
for competitive practice. This will be Kenya's
7th AFCON, after
1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004 and 2019.
Kenya has never got past the group stage. At CHAN 2024, co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania in August 2025, Kenya topped their group - including a 1-0 win over Morocco - and lost the quarter-final to Madagascar on penalties at Kasarani.
Sixteen words and phrases for match days. Tap one to see what it means.
Swahili time: hours count from sunrise, so saa moja
(the first hour) is 7 o'clock and a 9pm kickoff is saa tatu usiku.
Goli!
Goal! Shouted, sung and repeated for as long as your voice lasts.
Twende Harambee Stars!
Let's go, Harambee Stars! Twende means let's go.
Tuko pamoja
We are together - the spirit of the Pamoja tournament.
Mashabiki
Fans. One fan is a shabiki.
Uwanja
Stadium or pitch. Twende uwanjani - let's go to the stadium.
Mechi inaanza saa ngapi?
What time does the match start? Expect the answer in Swahili time.
Mlango uko wapi?
Where is the gate? Mlango is a door or gate; people also say geti.
Tumeshinda!
We've won!
Hongera!
Congratulations!
Pole sana
So sorry - for the other side's fans, or after a loss.
Refa!
Ref! Usually followed by an opinion.
Maji, tafadhali
Water, please. Tafadhali means please.
Ni bei gani?
How much is it? Useful for jerseys, flags and snacks outside.
AFCON is organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). This
is an independent guide, not an official AFCON, CAF or government
site. For tickets, use only CAF's official channels.