AFCON 2027 qualifiers draw set for Tuesday afternoon in Cairo

The road to the biggest football tournament on the African continent officially begins on Tuesday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) prepares to conduct the draw for the qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda 2027.

The draw ceremony is scheduled to take place on May 19, 2026, at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association (EFA) in Cairo, Egypt, starting at 3:00 PM local time (12:00 GMT).

A total of 48 national teams, including co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, will participate in the qualification process as teams begin their journey toward securing a place at Africa’s premier football tournament.

The draw will divide the participating nations into 12 groups of four teams each. At the end of the qualification campaign, the top two teams from every group will book their places in the final tournament.

AFCON 2027 qualifiers draw details confirmed

CAF has also confirmed that in groups containing one of the three co-host nations, one additional team will qualify for the finals, increasing competition and opportunities for qualification.

The qualification matches will be played across three FIFA international windows before the final tournament kicks off in East Africa next year.

Matchdays one and two are scheduled to be played between September 21 and October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026. The final two rounds of qualifiers are expected to be played between March 22 and 30, 2027.

The 2027 AFCON tournament itself is set to begin on June 19, 2027, with the final scheduled for July 17, 2027.

The competition will mark a historic moment for East African football, as it will be the first time the three neighbouring nations jointly host Africa’s biggest football event.

Football fans across the continent are now eagerly waiting to see how the draw shapes the qualification journey, with several top African nations expected to battle for the remaining places at the 24-team finals.

The draw is also expected to provide an early glimpse into potential heavyweight clashes and regional rivalries as teams begin preparations for the road to AFCON 2027.