The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), introducing what it says will be a more transparent system for selecting future hosts.
CAF has invited all 54 of its member associations to submit applications to stage the continent’s flagship men’s tournament, marking a shift towards planning multiple editions well in advance rather than deciding hosts closer to the competitions.
The initiative forms part of a strategy led by CAF president Patrice Motsepe, with the governing body aiming to improve the organisation of its biggest event while strengthening confidence in the host selection process.
CAF said the new framework has been developed to address concerns that have surrounded previous bidding procedures. The confederation has introduced a set of hosting requirements created in partnership with PwC, alongside input from independent technical, financial and legal specialists.
According to CAF, the new approach is intended to ensure that the evaluation of bids is transparent and meets international standards.
The governing body also highlighted the global reach of the Africa Cup of Nations, stating that the tournament attracts more than 3.2 billion television viewers and almost six billion digital views worldwide, underlining the importance of a credible and robust selection process.
The announcement means countries interested in hosting the next three editions of AFCON can now formally begin preparing their bids.
Attention is expected to focus first on the 2028 tournament, which will follow just one year after the 2027 edition.
That competition has already been awarded to the joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda and is scheduled to take place between 19 June and 17 July 2027.
The short gap between the two tournaments is likely to limit the number of countries capable of organising AFCON at such short notice.
Several nations have already been linked with a possible bid for the 2028 finals. Morocco is among the countries mentioned and could potentially use the tournament as preparation ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Egypt has also emerged as a possible contender, ten years after hosting the 2018 edition, while Ethiopia and South Africa have also been identified as potential candidates.
Interest is also expected to extend to the 2032 and 2036 tournaments, with more countries likely to have sufficient time to prepare comprehensive bids.
Among those reportedly being discussed is Zambia, which has attempted on several occasions to host the competition but has yet to do so. Equatorial Guinea has also been mentioned as a possible candidate, having previously staged the tournament in 2012 and 2015.
By launching the bidding process simultaneously for three future editions, CAF hopes to provide greater certainty for member associations while encouraging long-term planning for the competition.
The confederation believes that adopting clearly defined criteria, supported by independent experts, will help reinforce confidence in the selection process and reduce the controversies that have accompanied host appointments in the past.
With applications now open, member federations can begin competing to secure the right to stage one of African football’s most prestigious events.
