FIFA Sets AFCON 2025 Release Dates: Clubs and Nations Align Ahead of Morocco’s Showdown
3 December 2025
Key update from FIFA on AFCON 2025 player releases
FIFA announced on Wednesday the timeline for professional players in European leagues to report to their national teams for the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, now staged in Morocco.
Morocco will host the tournament from December 21, 2025 through January 18, 2026.
In an official letter to African associations, FIFA explained that after consulting CAF and European clubs, the January–February window was adjusted to reduce clashes with club schedules.
Specifically, the FIFA Executive Committee decided to shorten the mandatory international release by seven days, with the AFCON 2025 running from December 21 to January 18, 2026.
The aim is to ease planning for clubs while ensuring national teams can prepare and compete.
Nations and clubs are urged to continue bilateral talks in good faith to find tailored solutions.
If disagreements persist after those talks, FIFA will mediate and apply guidelines that consider match timing, competition phase, and players' past and planned involvement.
FIFA also clarified that the AFCON 2025 dates will be added to the men’s international calendar, even as the World Cup schedule remains on the horizon.
Already, several teams were preparing for friendlies ahead of the tournament; Egypt, for example, had a friendly against Nigeria on December 14, with Salah, Marmoush, and Mostafa Mohamed unavailable due to the new schedule.
Notably, and to avoid any doubt, FIFA noted that AFCON 2025 dates will be officially listed in the international calendar for men, alongside ongoing preparations for other major competitions.
In practical terms, this means a delicate balancing act for clubs and national teams as they navigate travel, form, and planning across December and January.
As teams gear up, fans can expect intense friendlies and strategic squad selection ahead of Morocco’s continental showcase. Bang, calendars are getting a workout—yet the ball still finds the back of the net.
Sniper joke 1: Bang—the calendar took the shot, but the ball still scores. Sniper joke 2: Target acquired—glory awaits, just bring a coffee and a plan, not a nap on the bench.
