2026 Women's AFCON: why this edition in Morocco will make history

One month to the day before kickoff, excitement is growing in the world of African women's football. From July 26 to August 16, 2026, Morocco will host the 14th edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations.

With an unprecedented expansion in the number of participants, record financial prizes, and World Cup 2027 tickets for Brazil on the line, this tournament already promises to be the most competitive and ambitious in history.

Historic expansion to 16 teams and record ambitions

The Morocco 2026 edition will mark a major turning point for the sport. For the very first time, the final stage will expand from 12 to 16 participating nations, divided into four groups of four. This expansion reflects CAF's desire to develop women's football by multiplying playing opportunities across the continent.

This sporting growth comes with a spectacular financial revaluation. Driven by its president, Patrice Motsepe, CAF has significantly ramped up its investments. Over the past five years, the prize awarded to the competition's winners has leapt from $150,000 to $1 million, proof of the sport's professionalization.

The road to the final

The competition will kick off on Sunday, July 26, 2026 with high-profile openers in Group A:

• 5:00 pm GMT: Algeria will face Senegal at the Stade Olympique de Rabat in the tournament's very first match.

• 8:00 pm GMT: Morocco, the host nation and last edition's unlucky finalists, will play their opener against Kenya at the Stade Moulay El Hassan in Rabat.

Groups and key dates to remember:

• Group A (Rabat): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Mali

• Group B (Casablanca): South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, Tanzania

• Group C (Rabat): Nigeria, Zambia, Burkina Faso, Malawi

• Group D (Casablanca): Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Cape Verde

• Quarter-finals: August 8 and 9.

• Semi-finals: Wednesday, August 12 in Rabat.

• Play-offs and third-place match: Play-off matches for eliminated quarter-finalists will take place Thursday, August 13 in Casablanca. The third-place match will be held Saturday, August 15 in Rabat.

• The final: Sunday, August 16, 2026 at 8:00 pm in Rabat, when the new African champions will claim the ultimate prize.

World-class infrastructure

To host this major event, Morocco is relying on top-tier infrastructure. Five CAF-approved stadiums have been selected in Rabat and Casablanca to host matches and official training sessions:

• In Rabat: Stade Moulay El Hassan, Stade Al Madina, and Stade Olympique.

• In Casablanca: Stade Larbi Zaouli and Stade Moulay Rachid.

The African elite in search of glory and World Cup qualification

The stakes of this 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations go far beyond the continental crown. The tournament will also serve as Africa's qualifying play-off for the FIFA Women's World Cup, Brazil 2027.

The four teams that reach the semi-finals will directly secure their ticket to the global tournament. The four sides eliminated in the quarter-finals will retain another chance to qualify via FIFA's intercontinental play-offs.

Defending champions and holders of a record ten continental crowns, the Super Falcons of Nigeria will enter the competition as favorites. But the competition will be fiercer than ever. Morocco’s home fervor, South Africa (crowned in 2022), and emerging, hungry nations such as Zambia and Ghana will all be ones to watch.