AFCON 2027 stadiums: List of all approved venues in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, capacity and progress

With less than nine months before the Africa Cup of Nations kicks off, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are racing to complete stadium projects, upgrade existing grounds and satisfy CAF’s technical requirements. But the proposed venues are not yet a final list of approved match stadiums.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are entering a decisive phase in their preparations to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with construction and renovation work continuing at several proposed venues ahead of the tournament scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.

The three East African neighbours will jointly stage the continental championship for the first time, marking AFCON’s return to the region after more than five decades.

However, despite visible progress at some facilities, the hosts still face the challenge of converting construction milestones into fully operational stadiums that meet the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) requirements.

CAF’s official tournament guide states that the final stadiums and host cities have yet to be confirmed. Its September 2026 inspection programme assessed stadiums alongside training facilities, hotels, airports and other infrastructure needed to deliver the competition.

Kenya’s proposed match venues are centred on Nairobi, where the new Raila Odinga International Stadium, commonly known as Talanta, and Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, are the principal projects.

Talanta, designed to accommodate 60,000 spectators, is the country’s flagship stadium development. A report published on October 2, 2026, put construction at 94 per cent, making it one of the most advanced major stadium projects in the Kenyan programme.

The remaining challenge is not simply finishing the structure. The venue must also have its essential systems installed, tested and ready for matchday operations, including spectator access, security, media facilities, lighting and emergency management.

Kasarani, with a reported capacity of 48,000, is undergoing extensive refurbishment. The work covers the competition pitch, floodlighting, spectator segregation, hospitality areas, media facilities and security systems.

CAF’s earlier assessment raised concerns about the state of the venue and the extent of improvements required. Its readiness will therefore depend on whether the outstanding work is completed and the facility passes the relevant technical checks.

Nyayo National Stadium has also featured in preparations, particularly as a potential training facility. However, its precise role in the final match-venue plan has not been confirmed.

Kenya has also considered Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret as an alternative, but reports have questioned whether it can be completed in time. It should not be treated as a confirmed AFCON match venue.

The country’s immediate priority is therefore to complete Talanta, finish Kasarani’s refurbishment and demonstrate that both venues can safely accommodate teams, officials, supporters and international broadcasters.

Uganda’s proposed stadium programme includes Hoima City Stadium, Mandela National Stadium in Kampala and Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira.

Hoima City Stadium, which has a capacity of 20,000, opened in December 2025. It is the country’s most advanced venue in terms of having been completed and opened, although further work has been necessary to address items raised during CAF’s inspections.

Uganda’s organising committee reported in September 2026 that approximately 95 per cent of the outstanding items identified during an earlier assessment had been addressed. One of the remaining requirements was a pedestrian bridge linking the VVIP parking area to the VVIP lounge.

Mandela National Stadium, commonly known as Namboole, is undergoing a major redevelopment. Its pre-expansion capacity is commonly reported at 45,000, while the latest phase of work is expected to add approximately 8,000 seats.

The project also includes improvements to media facilities, hospitality, accessibility, spectator services and safety installations. Authorities have set a December 31, 2026, target for completing the remodelling.

Meanwhile, construction at Akii-Bua Olympic Stadium in Lira was reported to be approximately 80 per cent complete in September. The project includes seating, a roof structure, drainage, a media centre, VVIP facilities and other supporting infrastructure.

The stadium is designed for 20,000 spectators, with the government targeting completion by the end of December 2026.

Uganda’s ability to complete all three projects on schedule will determine whether its proposed venue programme can be delivered in time for the tournament. Even where construction is advanced, final readiness will depend on testing, operational preparations and compliance with CAF’s standards.

Tanzania’s proposed venue programme features Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam, the new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium in Arusha and Fumba Stadium in Zanzibar. Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar has also been considered, although its eventual role remains uncertain.

Benjamin Mkapa Stadium, which has a reported capacity of 60,000, is undergoing extensive rehabilitation. A September report placed the wider refurbishment programme at approximately 95 per cent completion.

However, work on the playing surface remained a major concern, alongside improvements to lighting, backup power, hospitality facilities, spectator movement and safety systems.

The new Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium at Olmoti in Arusha is designed to accommodate approximately 30,000 spectators. Government figures reported earlier in 2026 put construction at 88 per cent, with work continuing on the stadium and its dedicated training facilities.

Fumba Stadium is another major project in Tanzania’s programme. The proposed 36,500-capacity venue in Zanzibar was reported to be 81 per cent complete in September, with roof installation and supporting infrastructure among the remaining works. Authorities were targeting completion by December 2026.

Amaan Stadium, with a reported capacity of approximately 15,000, remains a more uncertain prospect. CAF had asked Tanzanian authorities to clarify whether the venue would be retained as a competition stadium or designated for training.

Tanzania’s structural progress has been encouraging, but the final test will be whether the venues meet the required standards for pitches, crowd management, security, lighting and tournament operations.

However, the readiness of AFCON 2027 cannot be measured by seating capacity or construction percentages alone.

CAF’s assessment covers the wider infrastructure needed to stage a major international competition, including training grounds, accommodation, transport, airport operations, medical services, power reliability, media facilities and security.

The three countries must also ensure that stadiums can manage large crowds safely, provide appropriate facilities for teams and officials, and support international broadcasting.

Training facilities are particularly important because participating teams need suitable pitches and recovery environments throughout the competition. Completing the main stadiums without delivering the supporting infrastructure would leave the preparations incomplete.

The September inspection was part of CAF’s continuing assessment process, rather than an announcement that all the proposed venues had received final approval.

With the tournament scheduled to begin on June 19, 2027, the co-hosts still have time to complete the remaining work, but the margin for delays is narrowing.

Kenya’s main challenge is to deliver Talanta and bring Kasarani up to the required standard. Uganda must complete Namboole and Akii-Bua while resolving the remaining issues at Hoima. Tanzania must finish the outstanding works at Benjamin Mkapa, Arusha and Fumba and clarify Amaan’s role.

The projects also represent a long-term opportunity for East African football. Modern stadiums and training facilities could improve domestic competitions, attract international fixtures and support sports tourism well beyond the tournament.

However, the measure of success will not be how many stadiums the three governments can announce or how close their construction projects are to completion. It will be whether the facilities are safe, functional and certified in time to host Africa’s leading national teams.

For now, AFCON 2027’s proposed venues are taking shape, but the final list of approved match stadiums remains a decision for CAF.

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