The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be held from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco. The tournament was initially planned as a mid-year event, aimed at easing scheduling pressure on European clubs and boosting tourism in the host nation ahead of Morocco’s co-hosting of the 2030 World Cup with Spain and Portugal.
Club World Cup forces a rethink
The plans changed after Fifa scheduled its expanded Club World Cup for the summer, leaving no room for Afcon. As a result, the tournament was moved to December, marking the first time Afcon will start before January. The revised dates also help avoid clashes with European competitions, with the Champions League and Europa League resuming on 20 and 22 January respectively.
Venues and logistics
Matches will be staged across Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier and Fez, with organisers confirming there will be no fixtures on 25 December. Players were released from their clubs on 15 December, leaving national teams with just a week to prepare before the tournament kicks off.
Coaches express concern
The limited preparation time has drawn criticism from several coaches. Angola head coach Patrice Beaumelle described the situation as “nonsense”, arguing that it is impossible to prepare a competitive team in only “two or three sessions”. The compressed schedule has heightened concerns over player readiness and tactical preparation.
Afcon’s seasonal history
The last time Afcon was played in summer was 2019 in Egypt. In recent editions, the tournament has been staged between January and February, a period traditionally favoured due to Africa’s climate. Summer months in several countries bring extreme heat or heavy rainfall, which can affect pitches and player safety.
Weather remains a key factor
Holding Afcon in winter generally offers drier conditions and more stable temperatures, making it more suitable for high-intensity football. The 2023 edition in Ivory Coast was originally planned for the summer of 2022 but was postponed to early 2023 due to adverse weather conditions.
Tension with European clubs
While winter scheduling helps avoid clashes with other international tournaments usually held in summer, it creates friction with European clubs, who must release players mid-season. This issue has been a recurring point of debate between clubs, national teams and governing bodies.
Why Afcon was played every two years
Since its launch in 1957, Afcon has traditionally been held biennially. In its early years, African nations did not have guaranteed World Cup representation, and frequent tournaments helped grow the game, generate revenue and promote tourism. The format also provided regular competitive exposure for players and teams.
A major change from 2028
That cycle is set to change. From 2028, Afcon will be staged once every four years to better align with the global football calendar. The proposal was first raised by Fifa president Gianni Infantino in 2020, who also suggested holding the tournament between September and November.
Official confirmation arrives
On 20 December, the eve of this year’s Afcon, Confederation of African Football president Patrice Motsepe confirmed the shift to a four-year cycle, signalling a significant structural change for one of international football’s most prestigious tournaments.
