FIFA announced, Wednesday, that all clubs must release their players for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco no later than Monday, 15 December 2025, following «fruitful consultations» with key stakeholders and in a «spirit of solidarity» with CAF. The release period has been shortened by seven days, mirroring the approach used for the 2022 World Cup, reducing the impact on clubs competing in congested domestic schedules, FIFA said. FIFA also encouraged Member Associations and clubs to hold good-faith bilateral discussions to find appropriate individual solutions for players involved in continental competitions during the release period. Where disputes persist, FIFA will mediate, applying guidelines tailored to each case, including competition schedules, the stage of the tournaments concerned, and the player's historical and expected involvement. AFCON 2025 will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
