The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will take place in 2027, not 2028. Patrice Motsepe, the president of CAF, wanted to reassure African football fans: the tournament will indeed run from June 19 to July 18 in East Africa, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
This decision is part of a major reform: starting in 2029, the AFCON will adopt a four-year cycle, aligning it with other major continental competitions like the Euro and Copa América. The goal is twofold: harmonize the international calendar, reduce overlaps with European leagues, and ease the pressure on clubs forced to release their players for the tournament.
Before this historic change, AFCON 2027 will be the last annual meeting of the competition. Despite some concerns about the infrastructure and logistics of the host countries, Patrice Motsepe assured that the organization will take place “under the best possible conditions,” providing the continent with a spectacle worthy of the event.
With AFCON 2027, Africa is set to experience an exceptional football summer, marking both the end of an era and the beginning of a new cycle for its flagship competition.
