The 37th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025), hosted by Morocco, has achieved a significant milestone, with preliminary data indicating a 61% increase in global viewership compared to the previous edition. This surge positions the tournament among the world’s fastest-growing sporting events, according to initial figures from independent research agencies cited by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The full analysis, to be published by Nielsen, attributes this growth primarily to expanded international media coverage and a substantially broader broadcast footprint. A central factor was CAF’s strategic partnership with sports marketing agency IMG, which facilitated a 50% increase in broadcast partners relative to the 2023 tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. This expansion secured new linear and digital distribution deals across key markets including Japan, China, South Korea, Mexico, Greece, Colombia, Spain, Norway, Cyprus, and the Maldives. Collectively, these agreements made AFCON 2025 the most widely distributed edition of the competition globally.
The audience growth was notably driven by traditional European markets. The United Kingdom and France were identified as the primary contributors to the overall increase. Specific viewership milestones included the final attracting over 3 million viewers on Channel 4 in the UK and more than 4 million in Germany via Sports Digital. The tournament also demonstrated strong inroads into non-traditional football territories. Brazil registered over 24 million viewers, while Mexico reached nearly 2 million. Furthermore, the final’s broadcast on FanCode in India drew over 800,000 viewers, marking a significant debut for the competition in that market.
This expanded broadcast strategy directly benefitted CAF’s commercial partners. The confederation reported a 65% rise in media exposure for its brand partners across Europe and South America, a result tied to the global distribution plan and increased content production.
The unprecedented reach of AFCON 2025 underscores the effectiveness of CAF’s recent commercial and media strategies. The forthcoming Nielsen report will provide a comprehensive audit of the viewership data. The success of this edition is expected to bolster future bidding and broadcasting negotiations, highlighting the growing commercial viability and global appeal of Africa’s premier football tournament.
