By Africalivenews
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved a new competitions calendar covering the 2026 to 2030 period, providing a long-term roadmap for national teams, clubs and other stakeholders across African football.
The decision was taken during a virtual meeting of the CAF Executive Committee chaired by CAF President Patrice Motsepe on Friday, October 2, 2026.
The approval is expected to provide greater certainty for football associations and clubs as they plan their seasons, while improving coordination between CAF competitions, domestic leagues and the wider international football calendar.
The new four-year calendar covers a broad range of competitions involving senior national teams, women’s football, youth teams and specialised formats.
Among the major competitions included are the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, U-20 AFCON, U-17 AFCON, U-23 AFCON, Futsal AFCON and Beach Soccer AFCON.
The calendar also makes room for the newly introduced African Nations League, a competition designed to provide a major senior national team platform during periods when there is no FIFA World Cup.
The introduction of a longer-term calendar is expected to help reduce uncertainty surrounding the scheduling of major competitions, particularly for national associations and clubs that must manage increasingly demanding domestic and international programmes.
The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027, with Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda jointly hosting the tournament.
The three East African countries will stage the continent’s flagship national team competition as CAF continues preparations for the tournament.
CAF has also opened the bidding process for future editions of the AFCON, with the 2028, 2032 and 2036 tournaments included in its longer-term planning.
The bidding process is expected to give interested member associations sufficient time to prepare their proposals and demonstrate their readiness to host the continent’s biggest football tournament.
In addition to national team competitions, the approved calendar provides a clearer roadmap for CAF’s interclub competitions.
The CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup remain central to the continental club football structure, with the preliminary rounds of the 2026/27 campaign scheduled to begin in September 2026.
The competitions bring together the leading clubs from across the continent and provide an important platform for players, clubs and national leagues to compete at the highest level of African club football.
The longer-term calendar is also expected to benefit clubs that participate in continental competitions, particularly in managing travel, player workloads and domestic league commitments.
Women’s football has been given a place within the expanded calendar, reflecting CAF’s continued efforts to strengthen the women’s game and provide regular competitive opportunities for national teams and clubs.
Youth competitions have similarly been incorporated into the schedule, with the U-20, U-17 and U-23 competitions forming an important part of CAF’s development pathway.
These tournaments serve as key platforms for identifying and developing young talent across the continent, with many players using them as a stepping stone towards senior international football.
CAF has also included Futsal AFCON and Beach Soccer AFCON in the long-term programme, ensuring that different forms of the game receive structured attention within the continental football calendar.
The decision comes at a time when football calendars around the world are becoming increasingly congested, with national teams, domestic leagues, continental club competitions and international tournaments competing for space.
For African football, the challenge is particularly significant because clubs and national teams often have to deal with extensive travel across the continent while also fulfilling domestic commitments.
CAF’s extended calendar is therefore intended to give stakeholders more time to prepare and make the necessary arrangements for their respective competitions.
National associations will be able to plan international windows and national team activities further in advance, while clubs can better coordinate their domestic campaigns with continental commitments.
Broadcasters and commercial partners are also expected to benefit from having a clearer understanding of when major competitions will take place.
The increased predictability could help stakeholders prepare their commercial strategies, sponsorship programmes, broadcasting arrangements and promotional activities well ahead of major tournaments.
Supporters could equally benefit from greater clarity regarding the timing of major African football events.
CAF believes the long-term approach will contribute to better organisation and coordination across the continent, while creating a more structured environment for the development and promotion of African football.
However, the Confederation has stressed that the approved calendar is not completely rigid.
CAF noted that adjustments may become necessary depending on circumstances and developments within the international football environment.
Any changes to the approved schedule will be communicated to CAF’s affiliated member associations.
The 2026-2030 calendar therefore represents an attempt by CAF to bring greater structure and predictability to African football over the next four years.
With major national team tournaments, club competitions, women’s football, youth events and specialised formats all incorporated into the programme, stakeholders now have a clearer framework around which to plan their activities.
For African football associations and clubs, the new calendar could provide an opportunity to improve preparation, reduce scheduling conflicts and manage the demands of continental competition more effectively.
The coming years will feature a busy programme of football across the continent, with the 2027 AFCON in East Africa serving as one of the major highlights of the period.
As CAF continues to develop its competitions and expand opportunities across different areas of the sport, the approved calendar is expected to serve as an important guide for national associations, clubs, players, broadcasters, commercial partners and millions of football supporters across Africa.
