FIFA confirms AFCON 2027 dates in East Africa
CAPTION: Hoima City Stadium one of venues for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 tournament in Uganda. (File photo).
By Agencies
FIFA has confirmed the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 tournament window, set for 19 June to 17 July 2027. The FIFA Council ratified the dates for co-host venues across Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
FIFA has officially confirmed the dates for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, setting the stage for a landmark edition of the tournament to be hosted in East Africa.
The FIFA Council ratified the competition window, confirming that the AFCON 2027 tournament will run from 19 June to 17 July 2027 across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The confirmation firmly places the “Pamoja East Africa 2027” edition on the global football calendar and marks a historic milestone as the first time the tournament will be co-hosted by three nations. The event is widely seen as a defining moment for the region, reflecting unity, regional cooperation, and a shared ambition to elevate East Africa’s presence on the global sporting stage.
The ratification follows an earlier announcement by Uganda’s Local Organising Committee (LOC) on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, which had already indicated the same tournament window. The LOC said the month-long schedule is intended to give teams, officials, broadcasters, and fans adequate time to prepare for Africa’s premier football competition.
FIFA included the AFCON dates in its updated Men’s International Match Calendar alongside other major continental tournaments. The AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 will be held from 7 January to 5 February 2027, while the CONCACAF Gold Cup 2027 is scheduled for 19 June to 11 July 2027. The alignment is expected to help global federations and clubs plan better, particularly around player availability.
Each of the three host nations has already outlined key stadiums expected to stage matches.
In Kenya, the proposed venues include the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani and the upcoming Talanta Sports City in Nairobi. The Talanta Sports City is expected to be a flagship facility, reflecting the country’s renewed investment in modern sports infrastructure.
CAPTION: Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani. File photo).
Tanzania’s plan features the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the Samia Suluhu Stadium in Arusha, as well as the Fumba and Amaan stadiums in Zanzibar, creating a mix of coastal and mainland venues designed to showcase the country’s geographic and cultural diversity.
CAPTION: Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam. (File photo).
Uganda has proposed Hoima City Stadium, Mandela National Stadium in Kampala, and Akii Bua Stadium in Lira, spreading matches across different regions of the country.
CAPTION: Mandela National Stadium in Kampala. (File photo).
With the schedule now confirmed, attention is shifting to accelerated preparations, including stadium upgrades to meet Confederation of African Football (CAF) standards, as well as coordinated planning across transport, security, hospitality, and broadcasting systems in all three countries.
The “Pamoja” branding captures the spirit of unity behind the joint bid. Beyond football, AFCON 2027 is expected to deliver significant economic benefits, including boosted tourism, job creation, and increased international investment. It is also seen as a major opportunity to raise East Africa’s global profile and demonstrate its capacity to host large-scale international sporting events.
For fans across Africa, the confirmation officially begins the countdown to a month-long celebration of elite football, culture, and regional unity. For Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, it represents a defining opportunity to deliver a successful tournament and leave a lasting legacy for sport and cooperation in the region.
