South Africa to Bid for AFCON 2028
South Africa has confirmed its intention to formally bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2028.
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie revealed the plan during an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) in Rabat, Morocco, where the 2025 edition of the tournament is reaching its climax.
McKenzie explained that the bid is part of the Government of National Unity’s strategy to attract major international events as a way of boosting the country’s economy.
He added that South Africa is considering inviting Namibia and Botswana to join as co‑hosts, a move that would strengthen regional cooperation and spread the benefits of staging the continent’s biggest football competition.
The announcement comes as AFCON prepares for a historic shift. The 2027 edition will be staged by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, marking the first time three countries will co‑host the tournament.
It will also be the last biennial edition, as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed in December 2025 that AFCON will switch to a quadrennial format from 2028 onwards.
South Africa has twice hosted the competition before, in 1996 and 2013. The 1996 edition remains a landmark moment in the country’s sporting history, as Bafana Bafana lifted the trophy on home soil.
