Ethiopia bids to host 2028 AFCON

Ethiopia has submitted a formal bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), marking its first participation in over half a century. The Ethiopian Football Federation announced the bid on X, stating the nation's readiness to host the prestigious event. Ethiopia last hosted AFCON in 1976. With a population of approximately 130 million, it is Africa's second-largest country and its capital, Addis Ababa, is the headquarters of the African Union.

The bid faces significant challenges, including insurgencies in Amhara and Oromia, Ethiopia's two most populous states, and the possibility of renewed civil war with the Tigray region. The Ethiopian national team is currently ranked 143rd globally by FIFA and last participated in AFCON in 2022, where they were eliminated in the group stage.

The next AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, while the tournament will be held every four years starting in 2028. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, all facing jihadist violence, have shown interest in co-hosting AFCON 2032.