2026 WAFCON: CAF postpones competition to August over ‘unforeseen circumstances’

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially postponed the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), pushing the tournament to July and August due to what it described as “unforeseen circumstances” affecting preparations in host nation Morocco.

CAF confirmed the decision in a statement on Thursday, announcing that the continental women’s championship will now take place from July 25 to August 16, 2026, instead of the original schedule of March 17 to April 3, 2026.

According to the African football governing body, the adjustment followed consultations with global football authorities and other stakeholders involved in the organisation of the tournament.

“After discussions between CAF and its partners, FIFA and other stakeholders, CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026 to 25 July – 16 August 2026 to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances,” the statement read.

CAF added that preparations for the tournament remain ongoing and expressed confidence that Morocco will successfully stage the event despite the scheduling change.

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The tournament will still be hosted in Morocco, which was awarded the hosting rights in October 2024. The North African nation has become a regular venue for major continental football competitions in recent years, hosting several CAF tournaments and investing heavily in football infrastructure.

The postponement ends weeks of speculation over whether the tournament would proceed as scheduled in March, with reports suggesting logistical and organisational challenges had made the earlier timeline difficult for the host country.

The 2026 WAFCON will also carry additional significance beyond the continental title, as the competition forms part of the qualification pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The top four teams at the tournament will secure automatic qualification for the global event, while two additional sides will advance to intercontinental playoffs.

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