Egypt could welcome the Africa Cup of Nations back to its stadiums in 2028, with the Egyptian Football Association reportedly considering an official bid to host the continental tournament.
The possibility gained attention in mid-July after EFA board member Hamada El-Sherbini said the federation was seriously studying the idea and discussing the necessary steps with government officials and relevant authorities. However, Egypt had not formally submitted its bid at the time of the reports.
The development comes after the Confederation of African Football invited its 54 member associations to submit applications to host the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of AFCON. The bidding process requires interested countries to present detailed plans covering stadiums, training facilities, transport, accommodation, security and government guarantees.
Egypt is considered an experienced potential host due to its established football infrastructure and history of organising major international competitions. The country has hosted AFCON five times, in 1959, 1974, 1986, 2006 and most recently in 2019.
The 2019 edition was organised on relatively short notice after Cameroon lost the hosting rights. Egypt staged the competition across several venues and welcomed 24 national teams following the tournament’s expansion from 16 participants.
Egypt’s existing stadiums, alongside newer sporting facilities and infrastructure projects, could strengthen its case should the federation proceed with a formal bid. Government representatives have also previously expressed confidence that the country possesses the facilities and organisational experience required to stage another major continental tournament.
Competition for the hosting rights is expected to be strong. Several African countries have expressed interest in the 2028 edition, meaning Egypt would need to submit a comprehensive proposal before CAF selects the successful host.
The tournament would carry additional significance because CAF has announced changes to the AFCON calendar, with the competition expected to move from a biennial schedule to being held every four years after the 2028 edition. That could make the tournament a landmark moment in the competition’s history.
For now, a return to Egypt remains a possibility rather than a confirmed decision. The next step will be whether the Egyptian Football Association formally enters the bidding process and presents its hosting plan to CAF.
Should the bid succeed, AFCON 2028 would bring Africa’s biggest national-team competition back to Egypt for the first time since 2019—and give Egyptian supporters another opportunity to experience the tournament on home soil.
