The countdown to the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations—AFCON 2025—has officially begun.
All fans at home and abroad will be heading straight to the northern part of Africa, where Morocco is prepared to welcome one of the biggest events on the continent.
A star in the spotlight, a spectacular host setting, the culture, the cheers, and the battles between two teams are what to expect from the tournament.
Who is the host nation of AFCON 2025?
Morocco will host AFCON for the second time in history. It would be recalled that their first was back in 1988. The North African nation was selected after Guinea was stripped of hosting rights due to inadequate preparation.
When will AFCON 2025 start?
AFCON 2025 is slated to run from December 21st, 2025, to January 18th, 2026. The unusual winter schedule is designed to avoid major fixture conflicts in world football.
Where are the venues & cities for AFCON 2025?
Matches will be played across six Moroccan cities—Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fes, Agadir, and Marrakesh—in nine stadiums, including:
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat—set to host the final
Ibn Batouta Stadium, Tangier
Adrar Stadium, Agadir
Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca
Fez Stadium, Fez
Marrakesh Stadium, Marrakesh
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Moulay Hassan Stadium, Rabat
Al Barid Stadium, Rabat
Tournament Format
AFCON 2025 will feature 24 teams competing for Africa’s most prestigious football trophy. The format remains six groups of four teams. The top 2 in each group qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams will also progress.
Which teams are in each group?
Group A: Comoros, Mali, Morocco, Zambia.
Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, Zimbabwe.
Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda.
Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, Senegal.
Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan.
Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique.
How do teams qualify for AFCON 2025?
Qualifiers kicked off with preliminary rounds between 20 and 26 March 2024. Group qualifiers continued later in 2024. Following this, 24 available tickets were picked, and qualification was finalized ahead of the tournament kickoff.
What to expect at AFCON 2025
AFCON 2025 will crown the champion of African football for another two years. The tournament is expected to house major scouts for Europe’s top clubs ahead of the January transfer window.
Huge expectations is placed on the host nation, Morocco, who are expected to deliver on the pitch.