Ethiopia bids to host 2028 AFCON

Ethiopia has submitted its bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028, marking its first tournament in over half a century. The Ethiopian Football Federation announced the bid on X, stating the nation's readiness to host the prestigious event. Last hosting the continental tournament in 1976, Ethiopia possesses a large population of around 130 million and its capital, Addis Ababa, hosts the African Union headquarters.

The bid faces significant challenges, including insurgencies in the populous regions of Amhara and Oromia, as well as the threat of conflict in the Tigray region. The Ethiopian national team currently ranks 143rd globally by FIFA and last participated in the AFCON tournament in 2022, being eliminated in the group stage. The bid is officially submitted to CAF (Confederation of African Football).

The biennial AFCON, next slated to be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, will transition to a quadrennial schedule starting in 2028 to align with other FIFA competitions. Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, battling jihadist violence, have announced their intention to co-host AFCON 2032.