According to reports, Gianni Infantino, the President of FIFA, has proposed a notable alteration to the timetable for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to take place in Morocco.
The 2023 tournament held in Ivory Coast has garnered widespread praise following its conclusion. It not only saw numerous on-field records being broken but also achieved commercial success, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirming record-breaking viewership from across the globe.
At the winners’ ceremony, Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, was given the honor of receiving the host country’s flag for the upcoming 35th edition, slated for Morocco in 2025. Lekjaa engaged in discussions with FIFA President Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe on the sidelines. Reports from Kooora indicate that during this conversation, Infantino presented two potential options for the next AFCON: either hosting it in March 2025 or delaying it until January 2026.
Reports suggest that Morocco’s initial proposal to host the tournament in June and July would necessitate FIFA to seek UEFA’s cooperation in postponing the start of the European leagues to September of that year, given the FIFA Club World Cup’s concurrent scheduling. However, Lekjaa refrained from offering a definitive response to Infantino, highlighting that the months of June and July provide optimal weather conditions for the African tournament compared to earlier in the year.
Further reports indicate that Infantino is eager for a swift decision to enable adjustments to football schedules if required and to engage in discussions with other international stakeholders regarding the way forward.
