From 19 June to 17 July 2027, the Africa Cup of Nations - AFCON - comes to East Africa. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania co-host the tournament together under the name Pamoja, Kiswahili for “together”. It is the first AFCON with three hosts, and the first in East and Central Africa since Ethiopia in 1976.

Nairobi is at the heart of it, with three stadiums and tens of thousands of visiting fans. This guide pulls everything together; the AFCON 2027 hub has a live countdown, the key dates and the planning tools.

The tournament at a glance
Dates 19 June to 17 July 2027
Teams 24, including hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania
Matches 52
Stadiums 10, in 7 cities
In Nairobi Raila Odinga International Stadium, Kasarani and Nyayo
Defending champions Morocco
Official name TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027

AFCON 2027 is also the last to be played in an odd-numbered year - from 2028, CAF moves the tournament to a four-year cycle.

How the tournament works

The 24 teams are drawn into six groups of four. The top two in each group and the four best third-placed teams go through to the round of 16, then quarter-finals, semi-finals, a third-place match and the final. That makes 52 matches in just under a month.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically as hosts. The other 21 places are decided in qualifiers that run until March 2027.

Nairobi’s three stadiums

  • Raila Odinga International Stadium - a new 60,000-seater at Talanta Sports City, off Ngong Road, built for the tournament and a contender for the opening match or the final.
  • Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani - Kenya’s long-time national stadium off Thika Road, rebuilt to 60,000 seats.
  • Nyayo National Stadium - the central venue beside the CBD, with about 30,000 seats.

Each has its own section - how to get there, what to expect at the gate - in Nairobi’s AFCON stadiums. All three are on the map.

The Harambee Stars

Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, are in the finals as co-hosts, coached by South African legend Benni McCarthy. Kenya has played at six AFCONs but has never got past the group stage. Home crowds - and the run to the quarter-finals at CHAN 2024 - give real hope of changing that. See Harambee Stars and AFCON.

What is still to be decided

At the time of writing, CAF has not 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 whether a joint East African visa will be introduced,
  • official fan zones in Nairobi.

We update the hub and these guides as announcements are made. Treat anything else you read as speculation until CAF confirms it.

Tickets

Tickets will be sold through CAF’s official channels. Do not buy from websites or social media accounts claiming to sell AFCON 2027 tickets before sales officially open - they are scams. See Tickets and Fan ID.

Coming from abroad

  • Visas: most visitors need Kenya’s eTA; most African nationals do not. Uganda has announced a visa-fee waiver for fans around the tournament, and the three hosts are discussing a single visa. See Visiting Nairobi for AFCON.
  • Where to stay: choose by stadium - Kilimani, Lavington and Karen for Raila Odinga Stadium, Thika Road and Kasarani for Kasarani, the CBD and South B for Nyayo. Book early and with free cancellation.
  • Budget: the AFCON trip budget adds up rooms, tickets, transport and safari add-ons.

Getting around on matchdays

Nairobi’s traffic is the biggest challenge. Leave early, use ride-hailing or matatus rather than driving, and expect road closures near the stadiums. The matchday planner tells you when to leave from where you are staying. See also Getting around Nairobi.

Following several teams

Fans following their team across the region will travel between Nairobi, Kampala, Dar es Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar. See Travelling between the host cities.

Without a ticket

Most of Nairobi will watch on screens - at home, in bars and restaurants, and at fan zones. See Watching AFCON in Nairobi.

For Nairobi businesses

Hotels, short-term rentals, restaurants, transport and merchandise sellers will all see extra demand. See AFCON 2027 for Nairobi businesses.

Lessons from CHAN 2024

Kenya co-hosted the African Nations Championship (CHAN) with Uganda and Tanzania in August 2025 - a dress rehearsal. On the pitch it went well: Kenya topped their group, beating Morocco. Off it, crowds without tickets forced their way into Kasarani, and CAF fined the Football Kenya Federation and cut the stadium’s capacity for Kenya’s matches. For AFCON:

  • Only go with a valid ticket.
  • Arrive early - hours, not minutes, for big matches.
  • Follow stewards and police, and keep away from crushes at the gates.

Next