In a move reflecting its continued ambition to enhance its sporting leadership in the African continent, Egypt has expressed its official desire to organize the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations. This edition is of particular historical importance, as it will be the last stop for the tournament in its current system held every two years, before the oldest continental competition moves to a system of being held every four years, making its hosting an exceptional event in the history of African football.
Mohamed El-Shazly, the official spokesperson for the Egyptian Ministry of Youth and Sports, confirmed in a televised statement on Al-Shams TV that there is high-level coordination between the Ministry and the Egyptian Football Association to prepare a strong bid befitting Egypt's stature. El-Shazly stated, "We are fully prepared in terms of infrastructure and sports facilities. The Egyptian state strongly supports the Federation in preparing the hosting bid, and we will provide all the necessary governmental guarantees and administrative commitments, especially since the 2028 edition will be exceptional and historic as it will be the last in its current format.".
This Egyptian move comes at a time when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is undergoing radical changes to its competition structure. During an executive committee meeting in Rabat, on the sidelines of preparations for the 2025 Morocco edition, CAF announced a change to the tournament's format, which began in 1957. Under the new decision, the tournament will be held every four years starting with the edition after 2028, in response to previous proposals from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, aimed at easing pressure on the international calendar and resolving scheduling conflicts with major European leagues.
Historically, Egypt has a long history of hosting this continental tournament, having successfully organized it five times previously, most recently in 2019. That edition saw significant development in the infrastructure of Egyptian stadiums, despite Egypt taking over the hosting duties in record time as a replacement for Cameroon. Egypt aims to capitalize on its recent construction boom, exemplified by the Olympic City in the New Administrative Capital and the modern stadiums across various governorates, to solidify its position as a global sports hub, especially after its resounding success in hosting the 2021 World Men's Handball Championship amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2027 edition is scheduled to be hosted by a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, paving the way for the 2028 edition, which will serve as a bridge into a new era for African football. Observers believe that Egypt's winning bid to host this edition will boost economic and tourism returns and reaffirm the country's ability to host major events, in line with Egypt's 2030 vision for sustainable development.
