The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco attracted a much larger global audience, with early figures showing a 61% rise in viewers compared with the previous tournament.
Africa’s football body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), said early data from research company Nielsen shows the tournament reached its biggest worldwide audience so far. The full report is expected in the coming weeks.
CAF said the increase was helped by wider international coverage and more broadcasters showing the matches. The United Kingdom and France were among the main countries driving the growth in viewership.
A partnership with sports marketing agency IMG also increased the number of broadcasters by 50% compared with the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast. New TV deals were signed in countries including Japan, China, South Korea, Mexico, Greece, Colombia, Spain, Norway, Cyprus and the Maldives.
This wider distribution helped the tournament reach viewers beyond its usual markets.
In Brazil, more than 24 million people watched the competition. Mexico recorded nearly two million viewers. In Europe, the final drew more than three million viewers in the UK on Channel 4 and over four million in Germany through Sportdigital. In India, more than 800,000 people watched the final on FanCode.
CAF also said brand exposure for sponsors in Europe and South America rose by 65%, helped by its wider media strategy and additional online content.
The tournament also brought strong commercial results. CAF said commercial income rose by about 90%. The number of global sponsors increased from 17 in 2023 to 23 in 2025, including companies such as Visa, Puma and TotalEnergies.
Morocco’s modern stadiums and broadcast facilities also played a role. The high production quality made it easier for international broadcasters to show matches in high definition. The country’s location close to Europe also allowed games to be broadcast during prime viewing hours.
CAF also pushed more content on digital platforms such as TikTok and YouTube, sharing match highlights and behind-the-scenes clips to attract younger viewers.
Stadiums were also busy during the competition. More than one million tickets were sold, with over 700,000 fans attending matches during the group stage.
On the pitch, Senegal national football team won the title after beating Morocco national football team in the final in Rabat after extra time following a 0–0 draw.
Morocco players still collected several individual awards. Brahim Díaz finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, Yassine Bounou was named best goalkeeper, and Sadio Mané was voted player of the tournament.
The strong turnout has boosted Morocco’s reputation as a host of major sporting events ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
