The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has launched the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), inviting all 54 of its Member Associations to compete for the right to host the continent’s flagship football tournament.
The announcement marks the beginning of a selection process that will determine the destinations of Africa’s premier men’s international competition over the next decade.
CAF described AFCON as the continent’s biggest sporting event, saying the tournament attracts more than 3.2 billion television viewers and generates over six billion digital views around the world.
The governing body also confirmed its long-term scheduling plans for the competition following the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027, which will be jointly staged by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between 19 June and 17 July 2027.
Under the proposed calendar, CAF intends to organise a senior men’s Africa Cup of Nations every year except in years when the FIFA World Cup takes place, creating a more consistent cycle for its flagship competition.
CAF said the host selection process has been designed around a transparent bidding framework, developed with the assistance of professional advisers including PwC, alongside technical, financial and legal experts.
According to the organisation, the framework is intended to align the bidding process with internationally recognised best practices while ensuring fairness and accountability throughout the evaluation of candidate nations.
The opening of the bidding process gives Member Associations across Africa the opportunity to present their hosting plans as CAF prepares to award the rights for three future editions of the tournament, one of the most prestigious events on the global football calendar.
