The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, will feature 28 teams instead of the current 24, Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has announced.
Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Thursday, Motsepe said the tournament, scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, will expand as part of CAF's plans to grow the competition.
He also announced that AFCON will shift from a two-year cycle to a four-year cycle.
Qualification for the expanded 28-team tournament will take place across three international windows between September 2026 and March 2027. Although the three host nations have already qualified automatically, they will also participate in the qualifiers.
The group stage will feature seven groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group (14 teams) progressing automatically to the Round of 16.
The remaining two knockout-stage places will be filled by the two best third-placed teams.
CAF said the move to a four-year cycle is intended to reduce player fatigue and better align the tournament with European club schedules.
The continental body also announced plans to launch an annual African Nations League in 2029 to help offset revenue that would otherwise be lost with AFCON being held every four years instead of every two.