CAF launches the race to host AFCON 2028, 2032, and 2036

CAF has officially opened the race to host AFCON 2028, 2032, and 2036, launching a process designed to guarantee more transparency than in the past.

The Confederation of African Football took a strategic step forward this Friday. Its 54 member federations are now officially invited to submit their bids to host the next three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations: 2028, 2032, and 2036. This move, led by president Patrice Motsepe, aims to plan the confederation's flagship tournament well in advance, rather than managing each edition in a rush as has often happened in previous years.

See also: JS Kabylie: Karim Belhocine officially appointed as new head coach

A framework designed to avoid controversies

The main objective is clear: to restore credibility to a selection process that has long been criticized across the continent. CAF now relies on a set of requirements co-developed with PwC, as well as independent technical, financial, and legal experts, all with the stated goal of ensuring a transparent process that meets international standards. This is no minor detail for a tournament that, according to CAF, attracts more than 3.2 billion TV viewers and nearly 6 billion digital views worldwide.

AFCON 2028 just one year after 2027

However, the calendar is looking particularly tight. AFCON 2027, already awarded to Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, will be held from June 19 to July 17, 2027. In other words, just one year will separate that tournament from AFCON 2028, significantly limiting the number of nations truly capable of submitting a bid within such a short window. Morocco, which could use the event as a dress rehearsal ahead of the 2030 World Cup, Egypt, ten years after hosting the 2018 edition, as well as Ethiopia and South Africa are among the names already circulating. For 2032 and 2036, the field opens up even further, with regular mentions of Zambia, which has never hosted despite several attempts, and Equatorial Guinea, which could target a third hosting after 2012 and 2015.

Mahdi Zakaria LAZRI |

Editor

Football web writer creating digital sports content with a focus on news, analysis and stories that reflect passion, accuracy and objectivity.