CAF Confirms 2027 AFCON Will Keep 24-Team Format

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially dismissed reports suggesting a change to the format of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe confirmed during a press conference that the tournament will retain its structure of 24 national teams.

In a post on its X handle, CAF stated that media reports indicating a change were inaccurate, emphasizing that no decision had been made to alter the number of participating teams. The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to take place in June and July 2027, with the qualification process beginning in September/October 2026.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, with preparations ongoing ahead of the competition. This confirmation from CAF addresses the speculation surrounding potential changes to the tournament structure as African national teams gear up for the qualification campaign.