Liberia has secured automatic qualification to the group stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers following the release of the latest FIFA Coca-Cola world rankings. The Lone Star, ranked 141st globally as of December 2025, have avoided the preliminary round and will join the main group-stage draw scheduled for this Tuesday.
The FIFA rankings determine which teams must contest the preliminary phase of AFCON qualification, reserved for the lowest-ranked nations on the continent. Liberia’s position places them comfortably outside that bracket, sparing the West African side from early knockout matches and giving them a clearer path toward qualification.
The preliminary round will feature Lesotho, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eswatini, South Sudan, Mauritius, Chad, São Tomé and Príncipe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles and Eritrea, who will battle for the remaining spots in the group stage. The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, marking the first time the tournament will be co-hosted by three East African nations. Liberia will now focus on preparing for the group stage as they aim to return to Africa’s premier football competition.
