CAF sets stage for 2027 AFCON qualifiers draw in Cairo on Tuesday

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will hold the official draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at 12:00 GMT, marking the formal start of the qualification journey to Africa’s premier international tournament.

The ceremony is scheduled for the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, where 48 national teams will learn their group-stage opponents as they begin their quest for a place at the expanded finals.

The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, with the opening match set for 19 June 2027 and the final scheduled for 17 July 2027.

CAF has confirmed that the qualification phase will feature 48 teams, including the three host nations, competing for 24 available slots at the tournament.

The qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays one and two will take place from 21 September to 6 October 2026, followed by matchdays three and four from 9 to 17 November 2026, and matchdays five and six from 22 to 30 March 2027.

The teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group earning automatic qualification. Groups featuring one of the host nations will allow an additional team to progress to ensure full representation at the finals.

The draw will offer the first clear picture of the road to the 2027 tournament as nations across the continent prepare for a new cycle of African football competition.