The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially expanded the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) from 24 to 28 teams with the new format set to take effect from the 2027 tournament.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe announced the landmark decision during a press conference in South Africa on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, describing the move as part of the federation's commitment to giving more African nations the opportunity to compete at the continent's biggest football tournament.

The expanded format will make its debut at the 2027 AFCON which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

AFCON has featured 24 teams since the 2019 edition in Egypt but CAF has now increased the number of participating nations by four as it looks to broaden access and accelerate the development of football across Africa.

According to Motsepe, the decision reflects CAF's long-term vision of strengthening its flagship competitions while raising the quality and competitiveness of the game across the continent.

The CAF president further confirmed that the Africa Cup of Nations will be staged again in 2028 before the tournament adopts a four-year cycle going forward.

The expansion marks one of the biggest changes in the history of Africa's premier football competition and is expected to open the door for more countries to compete on the continent's biggest stage while further boosting the growth of the game.