MOROCCO · SPORT
What is new about WAFCON 2026
WAFCON 2026, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, has grown from 12 teams to 16 for the first time. The expansion follows a surge of interest and investment in the women’s game.
The tournament runs from 25 July to 16 August 2026. Matches will be played in Casablanca, Fez and Rabat.
The dates are themselves a story. The event was first set for March, then pushed to the European summer by the Confederation of African Football.
The switch to mid-summer aligns the women’s tournament with the European off-season. That should free up Africa’s growing number of overseas-based professionals to join their national teams.
Who has qualified
Sixteen nations made the field. They are hosts Morocco, defending champions Nigeria, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and Egypt.
They are joined by Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia. Cape Verde and Malawi will make their tournament debuts.
The teams are split into four groups. The top two from each group advance to the quarter-finals, then the semi-finals and the final.
Qualification itself was fiercely contested. The expansion to 16 places opened the door for nations that had never come through before.
Group draws will set the early storylines. A heavyweight section can knock out a fancied side before the knockouts even begin.
Why Morocco keeps hosting
Morocco is staging the women’s tournament for a third time in a row, a first for any country. Hosting has become part of a deliberate national strategy.
The kingdom has poured money into stadiums, academies and a professional women’s league. Its own national team reached the WAFCON final in 2022 and has become a regional standard-setter.
Hosting also serves a wider goal. Morocco is positioning itself as a sporting gateway between Africa and Europe ahead of the 2030 World Cup it will co-host.
The rise of the women’s game
African women’s football has climbed quickly in profile and quality. More players now feature for clubs in Europe and earn full-time wages.
Bigger fields and better venues raise the stakes. A 16-team WAFCON gives more nations a route to continental and World Cup qualification.
For smaller federations, simply reaching the tournament is a milestone. For Cape Verde and Malawi, the debut rewards years of slow building.
Domestic leagues are slowly professionalising. South Africa, Nigeria and Morocco now run competitions that pay players, keeping more talent at home.
What to watch
Nigeria arrive as the most successful side in the tournament’s history and the team to beat. South Africa, the 2022 winners, will fancy their chances again.
Hosts Morocco carry home expectation and a noisy advantage. The expanded format also leaves room for a surprise from one of the debutants.
Beyond the results, the bigger test is whether crowds and broadcasters follow. A strong tournament would cement women’s football as a permanent fixture, not a novelty.
Refereeing and pitch conditions will also matter in a packed summer schedule. A heatwave across the region could test players and organisers alike.
What is at stake beyond the trophy
The tournament is also a qualifying pathway. Strong runs in Morocco help shape which African nations reach the next Women’s World Cup.
There is money in it too. Prize funds, sponsorships and broadcast deals for women’s football in Africa have grown, though they still trail the men’s game by a wide margin.
For host cities, a month of football brings visitors and attention. Morocco has leaned on that formula before and is betting on it again.
Players have their own incentives. A standout tournament can earn a move to a richer league in Europe or North America.
A measure of Morocco’s ambition
Few countries treat sport as openly strategic as Morocco now does. Stadiums, airports and rail lines are being built with global events in mind.
WAFCON is a warm-up act for the bigger stage. The kingdom will co-host the men’s World Cup in 2030 with Spain and Portugal.
The investment is visible off the pitch as well. New training centres and a domestic league have raised the standard of Moroccan players in a few short years.
Critics at home question the priorities. Some Moroccans ask whether stadiums should come before schools and hospitals, a debate familiar in many host nations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is WAFCON 2026?
WAFCON 2026 runs from 25 July to 16 August 2026 in Morocco. It was originally scheduled for March before the Confederation of African Football moved it.
How many teams play in WAFCON 2026?
The tournament has expanded to 16 teams for the first time, up from 12. They are divided into four groups.
Which teams are making their debut?
Cape Verde and Malawi will appear at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations for the first time. Hosts Morocco and defending champions Nigeria headline the field.
Where are the matches played?
Games will be held in three Moroccan cities: Casablanca, Fez and Rabat. Morocco is hosting the women’s tournament for a third consecutive time.