Afcon 2027 expanded to record 28 teams as CAF reshapes tournament schedule

The Africa Cup of Nations will be expanded to a record 28 teams from 2027, in a major reform announced by Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe.

The enlarged tournament will debut at the 2027 edition, which is being co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July.

The competition has featured 24 teams at each of the last four editions, starting with Egypt 2019, but CAF has now approved the addition of four more finalists.

Motsepe unveiled the changes at a news conference in South Africa on Wednesday, saying the move was designed to widen participation and strengthen African football’s flagship event.

More teams, more opportunities

Motsepe said CAF’s decision was driven by the desire to open the continent’s premier tournament to a greater number of national sides.

He explained that expanding to 28 nations would allow more federations to gain experience on the biggest African stage and benefit from the exposure and financial opportunities that come with Afcon qualification.

Motsepe added that the step “aims to give a larger number of national teams the opportunity to appear at the African championship”, underlining that CAF “is always working to strengthen the power of its competitions and raise the level of competition in them”.

With Africa boasting 54 member associations, the increase to 28 finalists is likely to be welcomed by many mid-ranking and emerging teams that have often fallen just short in qualifying campaigns since the expansion from 16 to 24 teams in 2019.

CAF has yet to confirm the exact qualifying format or how the group stage will be structured with 28 participants, but the reform marks another significant shift in the scale of the tournament.

East Africa prepares for historic co-hosting

The 2027 finals will be staged jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in a rare East African hosting of the competition, giving the expanded format a high-profile launch.

The three countries are expected to invest heavily in stadium upgrades, training facilities and transport infrastructure to meet CAF requirements for a tournament almost twice the size of the traditional 16-team format used until 2017.

Regional officials have already hailed the decision to award the hosting rights as a chance to accelerate football development and tourism in East Africa, with the expansion likely to increase visiting fan numbers and global broadcast interest.

Afcon to move to four-year cycle after 2028

Motsepe also confirmed a major change to the tournament’s long-term calendar.

The Africa Cup of Nations will be held again in 2028, but from that point it will move to a four-year cycle, bringing it into line with competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and the European Championship.

“CAF is always working to strengthen the power of its competitions and raise the level of competition in them,” Motsepe reiterated, presenting the shift in scheduling as part of a broader strategy to enhance commercial value, reduce fixture congestion and give players more recovery time.

The decision is expected to have wide-ranging implications for African national teams, domestic leagues and European clubs, which have frequently clashed with federations over the release of players for Afcon during the European season.

As CAF finalises details of the new format and calendar, the 2027 edition in East Africa is set to become a landmark tournament – both the largest Afcon ever staged and the launchpad for a reshaped future for African football’s showpiece event.