Alex MacQuoid
African football’s biggest stars and most storied national teams will take centre stage in Morocco when the 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on 21 December.
With defending champions Ivory Coast joined by heavyweight contenders such as Morocco, Egypt and Senegal, and elite talents including Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi and Victor Osimhen expected to feature, AFCON 2025 promises top-tier football in world-class surroundings.
Central to that ambition is Morocco’s extensive stadium programme — the most expansive in AFCON history.
AFCON 2025: Key Dates and Final Venue
The tournament opens on Sunday, 21 December 2025, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in Rabat. A total of 52 matches will be played across four weeks, concluding with the final on 18 January 2026.
The final will be staged at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, a 69,500-capacity arena that serves as the competition’s centrepiece.
Tournament schedule:
- Group stage: 21–31 December
- Round of 16: 3–6 January
- Quarter-finals: 9–10 January
- Semi-finals: 14 January
- Third-place play-off: 17 January
- Final: 18 January
Where Is AFCON 2025 Being Held?
Morocco is hosting the Africa Cup of Nations for the second time, having previously staged the tournament in 1988. The 2025 edition marks a significant expansion, with matches played across nine stadiums in six cities — the most venues ever used at an AFCON.
Six of the nine stadiums form part of Morocco’s long-term infrastructure plan and were proposed as venues for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host alongside Spain and Portugal.
Host Cities and Stadiums
Rabat – The Tournament Nerve Centre
No city plays a bigger role at AFCON 2025 than the capital. Rabat hosts four venues and stages matches across every phase of the tournament.
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (69,500)
The flagship venue of AFCON 2025. Newly rebuilt and football-specific, it will host Morocco’s group games, knockout matches, and the final.
Stade Moulay El Hassan (22,000)
Recently inaugurated and home to FUS Rabat, this modern arena will stage group matches and a round-of-16 tie.
Stade Olympique de Rabat (21,000)
Opened in 2025 after a rapid nine-month construction, it features an athletics track and will host group-stage fixtures.
Stade Al Barid (18,000)
The smallest venue in the tournament, but a modern, compact stadium that will host group matches and a knockout fixture.
Casablanca – The Historic Heart of Moroccan Football
Stade Mohammed V (45,000)
Known as the spiritual home of Moroccan football, this iconic stadium hosts Raja Casablanca and Wydad Casablanca. Famous for its ferocious derby atmosphere, it will stage group matches, a round-of-16 tie, and the third-place play-off.
Tangier – Morocco’s Largest Stadium
Ibn Batouta Stadium (75,600)
The largest stadium at AFCON 2025, recently renovated to remove its athletics track and boost capacity. It will host group games, a round-of-16 tie, a quarter-final and a semi-final.
Agadir – Football at the Foot of the Atlas Mountains
Adrar Stadium (45,480)
Home to Hassania Agadir, this striking venue has previously hosted FIFA Club World Cup matches. It will stage group games and knockout fixtures.
Marrakesh – A Global Football Destination
Grand Stade de Marrakech (45,240)
Renovated ahead of AFCON 2025, this stadium has already hosted Club World Cup finals and will once again take centre stage with group matches and knockout ties.
Fes – Tradition Meets Modernisation
Complexe Sportif de Fès (35,468)
Located in one of Morocco’s most culturally significant cities, the stadium will host group games and a round-of-16 match, with expansion planned ahead of the 2030 World Cup.
A Tournament Built on Scale and Ambition
AFCON 2025 represents a statement of intent from Morocco. The combination of historic football temples, brand-new arenas and large-capacity venues positions this edition as one of the most ambitious in the competition’s history.
From Rabat’s modern showpieces to Casablanca’s intimidating cauldron and Tangier’s vast northern arena, the stage is set for a tournament that aims to match elite football with elite infrastructure.
When the first whistle blows on 21 December, Africa’s biggest football festival will unfold across some of the continent’s most impressive stadiums.