CAF, FIFA Confirm Key Regulations For AFCON 2025 In Morocco

CAF, FIFA Confirm Key Regulations For AFCON 2025 In Morocco

Sampson Adedeji

CAF and FIFA have jointly confirmed a set of regulations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, outlining competition dates, player-release rules, and coordination measures ahead of the continental showpiece, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The tournament will officially run from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, marking the latest shift in the competition calendar as AFCON becomes fully aligned with the Men’s International Match Calendar, securing its place in global scheduling.

One of the major updates is the mandatory release date for players, which has now been set for 15 December 2025.

This represents a seven-day reduction, designed to ease long-standing tensions between national teams and European clubs whose domestic seasons will still be active at that time.

CAF and FIFA have also encouraged clubs and national associations to engage constructively in resolving any release-related disputes.

Where disagreements persist, FIFA will intervene as mediator to ensure compliance with global regulations. In addition, players remain eligible to feature in both AFCON 2025 and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with FIFA confirming that no restrictions exist preventing players from participating in the two major tournaments.

With these regulations now in place, preparations for the Morocco-hosted AFCON move into full gear as participating nations plan their logistics and squad management strategies for the December kickoff.