{
  "id": 3431246,
  "title": "Ethiopia submits official bid to host Afcon 2028",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/26/ethiopia-submits-official-bid-to-host-afcon-2028-3431246",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-26T05:06:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/ethiopia-submits-official-bid-to-host-afcon-2028/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ethiopia has officially submitted a bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) asserts that their government-backed proposal confirms \"the nation's full readiness to host Africa's biggest footballing event.\" Ethiopia has previously hosted the tournament three times, in 1962, 1968, and 1976. However, the country's football infrastructure pales in comparison to other African nations. Last season, Ethiopia had only one stadium approved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for use, but it is currently constructing a new international stadium and sports complex in the capital, Addis Ababa. Despite this progress, it is unclear if Ethiopia possesses enough compliant venues to host a 24-team Afcon across multiple locations. Some regional facilities are believed to fall short of FIFA and CAF standards in terms of infrastructure, facilities, and overall match-day requirements. Ethiopia participated in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers at neutral venues in Morocco and Rwanda, but did not host any matches within its borders. Earlier this year, CAF President Patrice Motsepe stated that his organization had received \"exciting bids\" for the 2028, 2032, and 2036 Afcons, with the tournament set to shift to a four-year cycle following 2028. Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe have jointly bid for the 2028 finals, while Morocco, despite hosting the 2025 edition, is not in contention and is instead focusing on preparations to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, led by military governments, have also expressed interest in co-hosting the 2032 tournament. The 2027 Afcon will be held in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17 next year, marking the first time the competition returns to East Africa since it was hosted in Ethiopia in 1976. Ethiopia won the Afcon title at home in 1962, but their national team, the Walia Ibex, has only qualified for the tournament three times since then, finishing last in the 2021 edition without a win. Their next Afcon appearance will be in the 2027 edition. Beyond stadium upgrades, hosting Afcon would necessitate the development of adequate training facilities, gyms, accommodations, entertainment venues, reliable urban transportation, and enhanced security infrastructure. Security is a significant concern for Ethiopia's bid. While the capital city is relatively safe, several parts of the country remain plagued by armed conflict, political unrest, and other security challenges. Addressing these issues, along with the infrastructure demands, would be crucial for Ethiopia's successful hosting of Afcon 2028.",
  "summary": "Ethiopia has submitted an official bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}