Tournament Guide
AFCON 2026 in Morocco — Complete Tournament Guide
Last updated: 2 May 2026 · 5 min read
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), officially "TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025", runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. The tournament is hosted by Morocco across six host cities — Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, Tangier, Fez and Marrakech — featuring 24 teams across six groups of four.
Côte d'Ivoire enter the tournament as defending champions after their dramatic home win in 2024. Morocco enter as hosts and the highest-ranked African nation. Looking for live scores during the tournament? Bookmark the Livescore44 homepage — every group-stage match will appear automatically.
Tournament at a glance
- Host country
- 🇲🇦 Morocco
- Dates
- 21 Dec 2025 – 18 Jan 2026
- Teams
- 24
- Groups
- 6 groups of 4
- Matches
- 52 total
- Defending champions
- 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire
- Final venue
- Grand Stade Hassan II (Casablanca)
Host cities & venues
Morocco has built and renovated stadiums across six cities to host the tournament. The same venues will be reused for the 2030 FIFA World Cup which Morocco co-hosts with Spain and Portugal.
- Rabat — Stade Olympique de Rabat
- Casablanca — Grand Stade Hassan II (under-construction venue, expected to host the final)
- Agadir — Stade Adrar
- Tangier — Grand Stade de Tanger
- Fez — Complexe Sportif de Fès
- Marrakech — Grand Stade de Marrakech
Where to watch AFCON 2026
| Region | Broadcaster |
|---|---|
| 🇰🇪 Kenya | SuperSport (DStv) + KBC for Harambee Stars matches |
| 🇺🇬 Uganda | SuperSport (DStv), UBC for Cranes matches |
| 🇹🇿 Tanzania | SuperSport, AzamTV, TBC for Taifa Stars |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | SuperSport, NTA for Super Eagles, StarTimes |
| 🇿🇦 South Africa | SuperSport, SABC (free-to-air for Bafana matches) |
| 🇨🇲 Cameroon (FR) | Canal+ Sport, CRTV |
| 🇨🇮 Côte d'Ivoire (FR) | Canal+ Sport, RTI |
| 🇫🇷 France | beIN Sports, Canal+ |
| 🇬🇧 UK | BBC iPlayer / Sport (selected matches) |
| 🇺🇸 US | beIN Sports, Fanatiz, NBC streaming |
Channel allocations are confirmed by CAF's rights partners ahead of kick-off. Open any AFCON match on Livescore44 once the tournament starts to see the confirmed broadcaster for your country in real time.
Tournament format
The 24 teams are drawn into 6 groups of 4. The top two from each group, plus the four best third-placed teams, advance to the round of 16. From there it's a straight knockout — Round of 16, Quarter-finals, Semi-finals, Third-place play-off, Final.
Group-stage tie-breakers (in order): points → head-to-head points → head-to-head goal difference → head-to-head goals scored → overall goal difference → overall goals scored → fair-play points → drawing of lots.
Kenya at AFCON 2026
Harambee Stars qualification status updates here as CAF qualifying rounds conclude. Kenya last qualified for AFCON in 2019 (Egypt). Follow Kenyan football coverage on the Livescore44 Kenya hub for the latest on the national team.
Frequently asked questions
When does AFCON 2026 start?
The tournament runs from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco. The opening match is at the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca.
Where is the AFCON 2026 final?
The final is scheduled for the Grand Stade Hassan II in Casablanca on 18 January 2026.
Can I watch AFCON 2026 free-to-air in Kenya?
KBC traditionally airs Harambee Stars matches free-to-air. For other matches, you'll need SuperSport (DStv) or a Showmax Pro subscription.
Who are the favourites for AFCON 2026?
Morocco (as hosts), Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire (defending champions), Egypt and Algeria are the strongest pre-tournament picks. Watch the Livescore44 predictions page once the draw concludes.
How many AFCON has Egypt won?
Egypt are the most successful nation in AFCON history with 7 titles (1957, 1959, 1986, 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010). Cameroon are second with 5; Ghana third with 4.
Related guides: Kenya hub · FIFA World Cup 2026 · Premier League