The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will feature 28 teams instead of 24 starting from the 2027 tournament, according to Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe.
Motsepe announced the decision during a media briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday, saying the move is aimed at giving more African countries the opportunity to compete in the continent’s biggest football competition.
The 2027 AFCON will be hosted jointly by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. It will be the first time the tournament is held in East Africa.
Under the new format, the 28 teams will be divided into seven groups of four teams each. The top two teams in every group will qualify automatically for the knockout stage. They will be joined by the two best third-placed teams to complete the Round of 16.
This is the second major expansion of the tournament in recent years. CAF increased the number of participating teams from 16 to 24 before the 2019 edition in Egypt.
CAF believes the latest expansion will make the competition more competitive and give more nations the chance to showcase their talent on Africa’s biggest football stage.
Motsepe also said CAF remains committed to improving the quality, commercial value and global appeal of African football.
Qualifiers for the 2027 AFCON are expected to begin later this year.
