FIFA Club World Cup Threatens to Disrupt Morocco’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Plans

Will the 2025 CAN actually be organized in Morocco as announced? The 35th edition of the African tournament "would be moved, partly due to the FIFA scheduling of the Club World Cup, whose number of participants will be increased to 32, which will be played from June 15 to July 13 in the United States." If the continental competition were held in Morocco from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, some clubs could refuse to release their players. "It is not mandatory to make a player available more than once a year for his national team in the context of an international competition," states the FIFA regulations.

Currently, appeals are being filed in Belgian courts by players’ unions regarding the scheduling of the Club World Cup. Has FIFA violated the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights in its decision to introduce the new format of the Club World Cup? The decision of the European Court of Justice is awaited.