With just two weeks to go before the kickoff of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), excitement is building across the continent. Morocco will host Africa’s biggest football event for the first time in nearly four decades, and several unique features will define this edition.
Here are 14 key things to know as the tournament approaches:
1. Host Nation
Morocco is hosting the AFCON for the first time since 1988.
2. Tournament Dates
The competition will run from Sunday, December 21, 2025, to Sunday, January 18, 2026.
3. Holiday Period Scheduling
For the first time, AFCON will take place over the Christmas and New Year period to avoid clashes with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup and to align with the men’s international match calendar.
4. Number of Teams
A total of 24 national teams will compete for Africa’s most prestigious football trophy.
5. Host Cities and Stadiums
Matches will be played across nine stadiums in six host cities:
Rabat (four stadiums)
Casablanca
Agadir
Marrakech
Fez
Tangier
6. Opening Match
Hosts Morocco will face Comoros in the tournament opener on December 21, 2025, at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
7. The Final
The championship match will take place at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on January 18, 2026.
8. Tournament Format
The 24 teams are divided into six groups of four.
Top two teams from each group qualify automatically.
They are joined by the four best third-placed teams to complete the Round of 16.
9. Defending Champions
Côte d’Ivoire enter the tournament as defending champions after lifting the title in 2023.
10. Notable Absentees
Four-time champions Ghana failed to qualify, missing AFCON for the first time since 2004.
11. Prize Money
The champions will receive a record $7 million, with the total prize pool rising to $32 million.
12. New Regulations
Teams will have dedicated base camps and training grounds. Additionally, no stadium will host two matches on the same day, a move aimed at preserving pitch quality.
13. Official Match Ball – “ITRI”
The official tournament ball, named ITRI, is inspired by Morocco’s traditional zellij mosaic art, known for its intricate geometric patterns.
14. World Cup Preparation
AFCON 2025 will serve as a major operational test for Morocco as the country prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal.
, excitement is building across the continent){kind=link}