afcon schedule
AFCON 2025 will be played in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, with 24 teams playing 52 matches from group stage to final.
Quick Scoop: AFCON 2025 Basics
- Host nation: Morocco.
- Dates: 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026.
- Teams: 24 national sides, across group stage and knockouts.
- Time zone for kick‑off listings: local Morocco time (GMT/UTC +1).
AFCON 2025 is being framed as one of the most story‑rich, chaotic, and emotionally intense tournaments in world football, with writers highlighting it as “twenty‑four nations, one continent, countless stories waiting to be told.”
Group Stage Schedule (Highlights)
The full AFCON schedule is long; here are key opening group games that anchor the calendar.
| Date (2025) | Group | Match | City / Stadium | Local Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 21 Dec | Group A | Morocco vs Comoros | Rabat – Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah | 20:00 |
| Mon 22 Dec | Group A | Mali vs Zambia | Casablanca – Stade Mohammed V | 15:30 |
| Mon 22 Dec | Group B | Egypt vs Zimbabwe | Agadir – Stade Adrar | 18:00 |
| Mon 22 Dec | Group B | South Africa vs Angola | Marrakech – Grand Stade de Marrakech | 20:30 |
| Fri 26 Dec | Group A | Morocco vs Mali | Rabat – Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah | 13:00 |
| Fri 26 Dec | Group A | Zambia vs Comoros | Casablanca – Stade Mohammed V | 15:30 |
| Fri 26 Dec | Group B | Egypt vs South Africa | Agadir – Stade Adrar | 18:00 |
| Fri 26 Dec | Group B | Angola vs Zimbabwe | Marrakech – Grand Stade de Marrakech | 20:30 |
| Sun 28 Dec | Group E | Algeria vs Burkina Faso | Rabat – Stade Moulay El Hassan | 13:00 |
| Sun 28 Dec | Group E | Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan | Casablanca – Stade Mohammed V | 15:30 |
| Sun 28 Dec | Group F | Côte d’Ivoire vs Cameroon | Marrakech – Grand Stade de Marrakech | 18:00 |
| Sun 28 Dec | Group F | Gabon vs Mozambique | Agadir – Stade Adrar | 20:30 |
Knockout Rounds & Format
- Group phase: 6 groups of 4 teams each, with top two plus some best third‑placed teams advancing.
- Knockouts: Round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, third‑place match, and final, totalling 52 matches overall.
- The final is scheduled for 18 January 2026 in Morocco, capping four weeks of tournament drama.
Ivory Coast arrive as defending champions, adding extra narrative heat to every match in their path.
Latest News & Forum Vibes
- Coverage in late 2025 leans into the “high‑stakes drama” of AFCON 2025, focusing on star players (including Egypt’s big names) and the pressure on hosts Morocco.
- Football forums and fan spaces are full of debates over how hard AFCON will hit European clubs this season, especially with many stars leaving mid‑campaign.
“AFCON is happening. The drama is real. The talent is undeniable. The cultural weight is profound.”
This blend of tight scheduling, club‑country tension, and continental pride is a big reason AFCON 2025 is trending as a must‑watch winter tournament.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.