The Confederation of African Football, CAF has affirmed that Morocco has provided world-class infrastructure both for players and supporters as they host the 35th edition of the AFCON 37 years after it hosted it last.
The biennial football fiesta begins in five days in Rabat with a Group A clash between hosts Morocco and Comoros in a four-week race to the title.
According to CAF General Secretary, Véron Mosengo-Omba, “Morocco has provided world-class infrastructure, not only for African footballers but also for supporters from across the continent and beyond. In terms of preparation, we are ready.
For the first time we launched the Diaspora Tour. We brought the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON trophy to African communities abroad to say: ‘Come, you will be welcomed as you should be.’ The diaspora has since become our biggest driver of ticket sales. It was a gesture of respect and belonging. In Morocco, the strategy includes a strong promotional campaign, government mobilisation and new partnerships. We wanted to push further and truly innovate.”
This year’s edition is expected to surpass the historic success of the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire, which recorded more than 1.5 billion global TV viewers and 2.4 billion digital streams, setting new benchmarks for African football visibility.
The 35th edition of Africa’s premier competition will bring together the continent’s best teams, world-class footballers and millions of passionate supporters in a spectacle expected to surpass the historic success of the 2023 edition in Côte d’Ivoire.
Morocco is putting the finishing touches on preparations across six host cities – Rabat, Casablanca, Fes, Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir – all of which will stage matches in nine state-of-the-art stadiums.
The Kingdom successfully staged the recent TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2024 and the TotalEnergies CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations 2025, showcasing its organisational excellence and the passion of fans for the game.
Fans heading to the tournament can expect world-class hospitality, modern infrastructure and electric atmospheres as Africa’s finest players compete for the chance to lift the trophy at the final on 18 January 2026.
The tournament serves as another major milestone in the remarkable journey of a competition first played in 1957 – a showcase of African talent, unity and passion.
