AFCON 2027: how can teams qualify for the final tournament?

Preliminary round, group stage, host nations and schedule: everything you need to know about the qualifiers

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AFCON 2027: how can teams qualify for the final tournament?

The road to AFCON 2027 is underway: 48 national teams are competing for the available places to join Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The race for AFCON 2027 is now entering its decisive phase. The next Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027. A total of 24 national teams will take part in the final tournament. Before getting there, however, the majority of African nations must go through a two-stage qualifying process.

A preliminary round for the lowest-ranked national teams

The process began in March 2026 with a preliminary round reserved for the 12 lowest-ranked national teams in the FIFA rankings. They were drawn into six two-legged ties. The six winners then joined the 42 nations directly qualified for the group stage.

This first stage therefore created a field of 48 teams. The group-stage draw was then held in Cairo on 19 May.

12 groups of four teams and six matchdays

The 48 national teams were divided into 12 groups of four teams. Each team plays six matches, facing each of its three opponents once at home and once away.

The general rule is simple: the top two teams in each group qualify directly for the final tournament. Points are awarded according to the standard system: three for a win, one for a draw and none for a defeat. The 12 qualifying groups are now known.

It's almost time! 🌍

Here’s a reminder of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2027 Qualifiers groups ahead of Matchday 1. pic.twitter.com/UNmbK0BUS9
— CAF (@CAF_Online) September 22, 2026

A special rule for Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania

The three host nations are automatically qualified, but will nevertheless take part in the qualifiers. Kenya is in Group D, Uganda in Group H and Tanzania in Group L.

In these three groups, the system is different: only the best-ranked team other than the host nation qualifies. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania therefore already occupy three of the 24 available places. The nine groups without a host nation will send two teams each, providing 18 qualifiers, while the three host-nation groups will provide three additional places. Along with the three hosts, that makes 24 participants.

When do the qualifiers begin and end?

The group stage officially begins between 24 September and 6 October 2026 with the first two matchdays. The schedule for the first two matchdays already includes several major fixtures, including Algeria-Zambia, Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana, Morocco-Gabon and Egypt-Angola.

The third and fourth matchdays will take place from 9 to 17 November 2026. Finally, the fifth and sixth matchdays will be played from 22 to 30 March 2027. By then, the 24 participants in the final tournament will be known.

Where will AFCON 2027 take place?

AFCON 2027 will be the first edition in the tournament’s history to be jointly hosted by three countries. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the competition, marking the tournament’s return to East Africa for the first time since 1976.

The opening match is scheduled for 19 June 2027, with the final set for 17 July 2027. CAF has not yet officially announced which country will host the opening match or which will stage the final.