FIFA President Gianni Infantino has reportedly requested a significant change regarding the schedule for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which is set to be held in Morocco.
The recently concluded 2023 edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast received widespread acclaim. It not only witnessed the breaking of several on-field records but also proved to be a commercial success, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirming record viewership from around the world.
During the winners’ ceremony, Royal Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa was handed the host country’s flag for the 35th edition, scheduled to take place in Morocco in 2025. Lekjaa was seen having a conversation with FIFA President Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe on the sidelines. According to Kooora, it was during this discussion that Infantino proposed two possible options for the next AFCON: hosting it in March 2025 or postponing it to January 2026.
Sources claim that Morocco’s original plan to host the tournament in June and July would require FIFA to ask UEFA to delay the start of the European leagues to September that year due to the FIFA Club World Cup also taking place during that period. However, Lekjaa did not provide a definitive answer to Infantino, emphasizing that the months of June and July offer ideal weather conditions for the African tournament compared to earlier in the year.
It is further reported that Infantino is keen on a prompt decision to allow adjustments to football schedules if necessary and to discuss the way forward with other international stakeholders.
