FIFA has announced that players heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be allowed to stay with their clubs until December 15, a decision that eases concerns for European and global clubs worried about losing key players too early during a packed December schedule. With the tournament set to begin on December 21 in Morocco, national teams will have a shortened preparation window, forcing coaches to adjust training plans while still working to assemble full squads just days before kickoff.
FIFA says the updated release period aims to balance club commitments with national team needs for the continent’s premier football event, which will feature 24 nations competing for Africa’s top title, noting that the new arrangement seeks to “strike a balance between club commitments especially during the busy December calendar and national team needs.”