The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced that Cape Verde will host the CAF Strategy Conference from October 7-9, 2026, in Santa Maria, Sal Island. This decision comes after Cape Verde's impressive FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, which captured global attention. The conference will be led by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and will bring together key stakeholders in African football.
The CAF Strategy Conference will convene the Presidents of CAF's 54 Member Associations, Zonal Union Presidents, CAF Executive Committee members, National Team coaches, and international football experts. The event will focus on two main pillars: strengthening football development and sustainability across Africa, and analyzing the performances of Africa's 10 FIFA World Cup 2026 representatives. This will help prepare for even greater success at the FIFA World Cup 2030.
CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe has invited the Presidents of all 54 CAF Member Associations, Zonal Union Presidents, and CAF Executive Committee members to discuss CAF's ongoing strategy. The goal is to make African football world-class and self-supporting, and to elevate CAF competitions to global competitiveness. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is expected to attend the Conference, adding to its significance.
The Conference will welcome Africa's 10 FIFA World Cup 2026 participating nations and their coaches, as well as leading coaches of 44 other CAF Member Associations. Key global football stakeholders, including renowned football experts and the FIFA Technical Study Group led by Arsène Wenger, will also be in attendance. This gathering will allow CAF to connect lessons from elite international competition with player development, coaching, and long-term preparation.
Participants will also include coaches of the African Women's National Teams that have qualified for the FIFA Women's World Cup 2027, as well as coaches of the African Under-17 teams participating in the FIFA Under-17 World Cup. By bringing together different generations and levels of African national team football, CAF aims to support the continent's ambitions at the FIFA World Cup 2030.
Cape Verde's FIFA World Cup 2026 performance highlighted the significant progress African nations have made in recent years, making the country a fitting host for the CAF Strategy Conference. The conference takes place at a defining moment for African football, following the performances of the continent's record 10 National Teams at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The Conference will provide a platform to reflect on World Cup achievements and identify lessons and actions needed for African football to further strengthen its competitions and build sustainable football ecosystems across all 54 CAF Member Associations. This will help African football continue to grow and compete at the highest level.
Key points
- CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe will lead the conference, which will focus on strengthening football development and sustainability across Africa.
- The conference will bring together key stakeholders, including Presidents of CAF's 54 Member Associations and international football experts.
- The event aims to support African football's ambitions at the FIFA World Cup 2030 and build sustainable football ecosystems across the continent.
