The past eight editions of the Africa Cup of Nations have produced seven different champions, but even by usual standards AFCON 2025 looks set to be a wild ride. The trophy has been redesigned twice since Morocco last won the title in 1976, but Walid Regragui’s golden generation is living up to the hype — the Atlas Lions enter their home tournament on an extraordinary 18-game winning run.
You can watch AFCON 2025 from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for FREE.
2025 Africa Cup of Nations live streams: TV schedule, dates
Although skipper and reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi is working his way back from a bad ankle injury, Morocco still have a tremendous spine in Yassine Bounou, Sofyan Amrabat and Brahim Diaz. They won’t need reminding, however, that they followed their sensational run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup run by flopping at AFCON two years ago.
Egypt, who won three consecutive titles between 2006 and 2010 and have lost two finals since, look like Morocco’s likeliest rivals for the title. At 33, Mohamed Salah won’t get many more opportunities to finally taste AFCON glory, but he now has a world class partner-in-crime in Omar Marmoush. The Pharoahs, along with Riyad Mahrez-led Algeria and holders Ivory Coast went unbeaten through World Cup qualifying.
The Elephants’ route to the title was the stuff of legend. They fired their coach after a desperate group stage, dropped Emerse Faé in at the deep end, and never looked back. Nigeria, the beaten finalists two years ago, feature 2023 and 2024 African Footballers of the Year Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, but have failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, so to Bryan Mbeumo’s Cameroon. They were each beaten by DR Congo in the playoffs.
AFCON 2025 was supposed to have been held in Guinea over the summer, but Gianni Infantino instead ordered it to be played over Christmas and in the middle of the European season, in order to make room for his bloated Club World Cup. FIFA has also given participating teams less than a week to prepare. Not to be outmatched, UEFA’s own two brain cells came up with the idea of pointlessly expanding the Champions League, thereby boxing AFCON in tighter still. Expect chaos.
Here’s how to watch AFCON 2025 online and on TV — including free streaming options. We’ve also listed the full schedule below so you don’t miss a moment.
Can I watch AFCON 2025 free of charge?
All 52 games of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations are free-to-air in the U.K. courtesy of Channel 4, with streaming available via the Channel 4 platform. Just register an account.
Select games are also being live streamed on the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
Away from home? You may not be able to watch the action like you normally would due to regional restrictions. Fortunately, there’s an easy solution. Use a VPN to watch AFCON 2025 for free — we’ll show you how below.
How to watch AFCON 2025 from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching the soccer on your usual subscription?
You can still watch AFCON 2025 live thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear as if they’re back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. So ideal for viewers away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN. It’s the best on the market:
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we’ve said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance, if you want to watch the free Africa Cup of Nations coverage on Channel 4, choose ‘U.K.’ from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Channel 4, sign in, and watch AFCON 2025 live.
How to watch AFCON 2025 live streams in the U.S.
In the U.S., AFCON 2025 is being shown exclusively on beIN Sports.
beIN Sports is available from a number of cable providers including Dish, Spectrum, Verizon Fios and more, or as a standalone service.
Alternatively, fans can get beIN Sports via the Sling TV Soccer Pass, which costs just $5/month with their special AFCON promo.
How to watch AFCON 2025 live streams in Canada
In Canada, Africa Cup of Nations 2025 is exclusive to beIN Sports.
The network is available on cable plans from the likes of Shaw, Bell and Rogers.
If you live in Canada and already subscribe but aren’t at home right now, you can still watch an AFCON live stream via your cable plan by using a quality VPN like NordVPN.
How to watch AFCON 2025 live streams in the U.K.
As explained above, every game of AFCON 2025 is free-to-air in the U.K., courtesy of Channel 4.
Fixtures are being shown across multiple TV channels, namely Channel 4, E4 and 4Seven, with live streaming available via the Channel 4 platform.
A handful of games are also set to be shown for free on the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel.
If you’re on holiday outside the U.K., you can still follow your usual AFCON live streams by using one of the best VPN services, such as NordVPN.
Can I watch AFCON 2025 in Australia?
beIn Sports will also be showing AFCON 2025 in Australia.
A subscription costs AU$15.99/month or AU$189.99/year after a 7-day FREE trial.
If you’re a Brit Down Under for work or on vacation you can catch every game of the Africa Cup of Nations as usual by using a VPN, such as NordVPN.
AFCON schedule 2025
(All times ET)
AFCON GROUP STAGE
Sunday, 21 December
2 p.m. — Morocco vs Comoros
Monday, 22 December
9 a.m. — Mali vs Zambia
12 p.m. — South Africa vs Angola
3 p.m. — Egypt vs Zimbabwe
Tuesday, 23 December
7:30 a.m. — DR Congo vs Benin
10 a.m. — Senegal vs Botswana
12:30 p.m. — Nigeria vs Tanzania
3 p.m. —Tunisia vs Uganda
Wednesday, 24 December
7:30 a.m. — Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea
10 a.m. — Algeria vs Sudan
12:30 p.m. — Ivory Coast vs Mozambique
3 p.m. — Cameroon vs Gabon
Friday, 26 December
7:30 a.m. — Angola vs Zimbabwe
10 a.m. — Egypt vs South Africa
12:30 p.m. — Zambia vs Comoros
3 p.m. — Morocco vs Mali
Saturday, 27 December
7:30 a.m. — Benin vs Botswana
10 a.m. — Senegal vs DR Congo
12:30 p.m. — Uganda vs Tanzania
3 p.m. — Nigeria vs Tunisia
Sunday, 28 December
7:30 a.m. — Gabon vs Mozambique
10 a.m. — Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan
12:30 p.m. — Algeria vs Burkina Faso
3 p.m. — Ivory Coast vs Cameroon
Monday, 29 December
11 a.m. — Angola vs Egypt
11 a.m. — Zimbabwe vs South Africa
2 p.m. — Comoros vs Mali
2 p.m. — Zambia vs Morocco
Tuesday, 30 December
11 a.m. — Tanzania vs Tunisia
11 a.m. — Uganda vs Nigeria
2 p.m. — Benin vs Senegal
2 p.m. — Botswana vs DR Congo
Wednesday, 31 December
11 a.m. — Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria
11 a.m. — Sudan vs Burkina Faso
2 p.m. — Gabon vs Ivory Coast
2 p.m. — Mozambique vs Cameroon
AFCON KNOCKOUTS
Round of 16
Saturday, 3 January
12 p.m. — Group D winners vs 3rd place (B/E/F)
2:30 p.m. — Group A runners-up vs Group C runners-up
Sunday, 4 January
12 p.m. — Group A winners vs 3rd place (C/D/E)
2:30 p.m. — Group B runners-up vs Group F runners-up
Monday, 5 January
12 p.m. — Group B winners vs 3rd place (A/C/D)
2:30 p.m. — Group C winners vs 3rd place (A/B/F)
Tuesday, 6 January
12 p.m. — Group E winners vs Group D runners-up
2:30 p.m. — Group F winners vs Group E runners-up
Quarter-finals
Friday, 9 January
12 p.m. — Winner R16‑2 vs Winner R16‑1
2:30 p.m. — Winner R16‑4 vs Winner R16‑3
Saturday, 10 January
12 p.m. — Winner R16‑7 vs Winner R16‑6
2:30 p.m. — Winner R16‑5 vs Winner R16‑8
Semi-finals
Wednesday, 14 January
12 p.m. — Semi-final 1
2:30 p.m. — Semi-final 2
Saturday, 17 January
2 p.m. — Third-place playoff
Sunday, 18 January
2 p.m. — AFCON 2025 Final
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