- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed Morocco as the host nation for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON)
- The tournament is scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, with the timeline fixed to align with FIFA regulations
- Meanwhile, South Africa had expressed readiness to step in as a replacement host if necessary
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that Morocco will host the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as planned. CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe dispelled recent rumors of a potential postponement or change of host, affirming that the 16th edition of the tournament will run from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
Speaking after a CAF Executive Committee meeting in Dar es Salaam, Motsepe addressed the speculation, saying, “There is discussion taking place, and a lot of competitions. Morocco came to assist. There were many countries that wanted to host it, but because we didn’t have time and our standards were very high. The WAFCON continues, as we speak now, we still have an engagement with Morocco.”
While earlier reports hinted at possible adjustments to the schedule, the CAF President emphasised that the timeline will remain unchanged to align with FIFA regulations.
He further noted the tournament’s significance in the global football calendar, stating, “We can’t change the date because it is part of the qualification pathway for the Women’s World Cup. WAFCON will continue and it will be successful.”
This will be the third consecutive time Morocco hosts WAFCON, following the 2022 and 2024 editions.
Despite South Africa expressing willingness to step in if needed, CAF has reaffirmed its commitment to Morocco as the host nation.
The 2026 tournament will feature an expanded 16-team format and play a crucial role in deciding which African teams qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.