Ivory Coast will defend their title at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 35th edition of the international football tournament runs for a month across December and January in Morocco.
It will be the first time the competition has been played over the Christmas and New Year period. The previous edition was also held during the Northern Hemisphere's winter, but that did not start until mid-January.
The 2025 AFCON was initially slated to take place in June and July but moved to avoid a clash with the expanded FIFA Club World Cup.
Here's everything you need to know about the tournament schedule.
MORE: Who has won the most AFCON titles?
When does the AFCON start?
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations starts on Sunday, December 21.
Hosts Morocco, who reached the semifinals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, take on Comoros in the first Group A match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
Fixture schedule for AFCON 2025
The 2025 AFCON is a 24-team tournament. The nations have been drawn into six groups of four.
The top two teams in each group, as well as the four best third-place finishers, will progress to the knockout stages.
Group stage
- Sunday, December 21 to Wednesday, December 31
Round of 16
- Sunday, January 3 to Tuesday, January 6
Quarterfinals
- Saturday, January 10 to Sunday, January 11
Semifinals
- Wednesday, January 14
Third-place playoff
- Saturday, January 17
Final
- Sunday, January 18
MORE: Full match schedule and groups for AFCON 2025