CAF to set 2026-27 Champions League and Confederation Cup paths with Cairo draw

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the preliminary-round draws for the 2026-27 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup will take place on Thursday, 6 August, at the governing body’s headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

The CAF Confederation Cup draw will be held first, beginning at 14:00 Cairo time. The draw for the CAF Champions League will follow at 15:00.

Representatives of the clubs that have qualified for the preliminary rounds are expected to attend the ceremony, which will formally begin the new continental campaign.

The event will determine the opening routes for clubs competing in both of Africa’s leading inter-club competitions. Teams in the CAF Confederation Cup will discover their preliminary-round opponents before the focus switches to the CAF Champions League an hour later.

For the clubs involved, the draw will provide the first clear indication of the challenges they must overcome at the start of the 2026-27 season. Progress through the preliminary rounds will be required before the competing sides can secure a place in the group stage.

The reigning champions will enter the new campaign aiming to keep hold of their continental crown. The rest of the field will begin the process of trying to challenge the holders, with each club seeking to advance through the early rounds and continue its run in the competition.

CAF’s announcement therefore marks an important date on the calendar for clubs preparing for the next continental season. Although the draw itself will take place in Cairo, its outcome will shape the opening schedule and the first competitive obstacles facing the teams in both tournaments.

The Confederation Cup proceedings will open the ceremony at 14:00, followed by the Champions League draw at 15:00. Both events will take place at CAF’s Cairo headquarters, with representatives of the qualified clubs present.

The two draws represent the official starting point of the new inter-club campaign. From that moment, clubs will know which preliminary-round ties stand between them and the group stage, while the defending champions will begin their attempt to retain the title.

CAF has not provided any other details in the announcement beyond the date, venue and running order of the ceremony. The key information confirmed is that the preliminary-round draw for the CAF Confederation Cup will take place first, with the CAF Champions League draw immediately afterwards.

The ceremony on Thursday, 6 August will consequently launch the race for continental success in 2026-27. Clubs across the two competitions will be looking to negotiate the preliminary rounds, reach the group stage and keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.