African football is set for a historic expansion. Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has announced that the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will grow from 24 to 28 participating teams beginning with the 2027 tournament.
Speaking to the media in Johannesburg, Dr. Motsepe confirmed the CAF-approved change, framing it as a strategic move to boost continental participation and offer more national teams a shot at glory.
What the New Format Looks Like:
Co-Hosts: The 2027 edition will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—marking the first time the tournament lands in East Africa.
Group Stage: The 28 teams will be split into seven groups of four.
Knockout Qualification: The top two teams from each group will advance directly to the Round of 16, joined by the two best third-placed teams overall.
This marks another rapid evolution for Africa’s flagship competition, coming just a few years after CAF expanded the roster from 16 to 24 teams ahead of the 2019 tournament in Egypt. According to CAF leadership, the expanded footprint will elevate competitiveness, drive commercial value, and grow the global footprint of African football.
With qualifiers slated to begin later this year, the stage is officially being set for a bigger, bolder AFCON.
