ADDIS ABABA, August 25, 2026 — Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), seeking to bring Africa’s premier national football tournament back to the country for the first time in more than five decades.
The Ethiopian Football Federation (EFF) confirmed on Monday that it had submitted its official bid documents to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), with the candidature backed by the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia government.
“Ethiopia has formally submitted its bid to CAF to host AFCON 2028,” the federation said, describing the submission as confirmation of the country’s readiness to stage the continental tournament.
Ethiopia last hosted AFCON in 1976. It previously staged the tournament in 1962 and 1968, and won its only continental title in 1962 after defeating Egypt 4–2 after extra time in the final in Addis Ababa.
The bid comes at a significant moment for East African football. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are scheduled to jointly host the 2027 AFCON, meaning Ethiopia’s successful bid could keep the continent’s flagship tournament in the region for consecutive editions.
However, Ethiopia faces challenges in its bid, particularly regarding football infrastructure and security. Reports indicate that several stadium and infrastructure projects have faced delays, while the country continues to deal with security challenges in parts of Amhara and Oromia and concerns over renewed conflict in Tigray.
The Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, is home to the headquarters of the African Union and is expected to be central to the country’s hosting plans. Ethiopia is also seeking to leverage its large population, football history and investments in sporting infrastructure to strengthen its case.
CAF has opened a broader bidding process for future AFCON editions, with the tournament moving to a four-year cycle from 2028. Other countries that have expressed interest in hosting the 2028 edition include Morocco and a joint South Africa-Botswana bid.
For Ethiopia, securing the 2028 tournament would mark a major return to the continental sporting stage and provide an opportunity to showcase its football heritage while accelerating investment in stadiums, transport, accommodation and other infrastructure.
CAF will ultimately assess the competing bids before selecting the host nation.
If successful, Ethiopia would host AFCON 52 years after it last staged the tournament in 1976.
