🇲🇦 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco: Everything you need to know

The 2025 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) will be held in Morocco from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026. It's a historic edition, postponed to the winter to accommodate the international calendar. Between brand-new stadiums, popular passion, and immense sporting stakes, PlanetFoot debriefs you all.

🔥 Discover the special CAN collection

🗓️ Key dates and opening

Opening match : December 21, 2025
Final : January 18, 2026
First match : Morocco vs Comoros, at the Moulay Abdellah Complex (Rabat)
The tournament is postponed by 6 months by CAF to avoid overlapping with the FIFA Club World Cup (scheduled for June/July 2025).

🏞️ Host cities and stadiums

The 2025 CAN will mobilize 9 stadiums in 6 Moroccan cities, all approved by CAF:

Rabat – Prince Moulay Abdellah Complex (69,500 seats)
Casablanca – Mohammed V Stadium (45 891)
Tangier – Ibn Batouta Stadium (75,600)
Fez – Fez Stadium (35,468)
Marrakech – Marrakech Stadium (41245)
Agadir – Adrar Stadium (45,480)

Morocco is highlighting its logistical capacity and experience (CHAN 2018, CAN Women 2022, Club World Cup 2023).

🌎 Qualified nations and draw

24 nations will participate in the final phase. Among the most anticipated:

Morocco (host country)
Senegal , Algeria , Cameroon , Nigeria , Ivory Coast
Tunisia , Egypt , DR Congo , Ghana ...

The draw for the groups (A to F) will take place in Rabat in January 2025 .

❄️ Why the CAN in December?

To avoid the overload of June/July 2025 (Club World Cup FIFA)
To offer a more fluid competition, without the absence of African stars retained by their clubs
To ensure ideal climatic conditions for players

It is also a strategy of CAF to modernize the organization and promote African football on the world calendar.

🎟️ Tickets and expected attendance

Ticket opening : expected from June 2025
Affordable prices for matches outside Morocco
Expecting record crowds during the holidays (Rabat and Casablanca in the lead)

🏆 Objectives and sporting challenges

Morocco is aiming for a home title , which would be historic (only 1 title in 1976)
The competition will also serve as a full-scale test before the 2030 World Cup (which Morocco will co-host with Spain and Portugal).
The 2025 CAN is seen as the most structured since the introduction of the 24-nation format.