The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially approved the expansion of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams, marking another historic milestone for the continent’s premier football competition.
The new format will debut at the 2027 TotalEnergies AFCON, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The decision was confirmed by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe during a media briefing, where he described the expansion as part of CAF’s long-term vision to grow African football and give more nations the opportunity to compete at the highest level.
East Africa Set for a Historic Tournament
The 2027 edition will already be historic as it will be the first AFCON ever hosted by three countries. With the tournament now featuring 28 teams instead of 24, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are expected to stage an even larger football spectacle, welcoming more participating nations, supporters and officials than ever before.
The expansion is expected to increase the number of matches, create additional qualification opportunities for emerging football nations and boost commercial revenues through broadcasting, sponsorship and tourism.
CAF believes the move reflects the rapid growth of African football, particularly after the continent’s impressive performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where African teams recorded their strongest collective showing in history.
New Competition Format
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Under the revised structure: The tournament will feature 28 national teams.
The teams will be divided into seven groups of four.
The top two teams from each group, along with the two best third-placed teams, will advance to the Round of 16.
The knockout stage will then proceed through the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The format is designed to maintain competitive balance while ensuring more countries have the opportunity to participate in Africa’s biggest football event.
Bigger Opportunity for African Nations
The increase in participating teams means four additional countries will qualify for the finals compared to previous editions.
Many developing football nations that have narrowly missed qualification in recent years now stand a better chance of reaching the continental showpiece, a move CAF hopes will accelerate football development across Africa.
The decision also aligns AFCON with the global trend of expanding major international tournaments, following FIFA’s expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams.
Pressure on Host Nations
While excitement continues to build across East Africa, the expanded tournament also places greater responsibility on Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to deliver world-class infrastructure, transportation, accommodation and security.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe recently expressed confidence that despite existing challenges, the three host nations are making significant progress and remain on course to deliver a successful championship.
The tournament is expected to attract millions of viewers worldwide while showcasing East Africa’s sporting potential, tourism attractions and growing football culture.
With qualifiers set to continue ahead of the finals, the countdown has officially begun for what promises to be the biggest Africa Cup of Nations in history.
