FIFA has officially settled the long-running and often tense dispute over when African players must leave their clubs to join their national teams for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). And the verdict clearly favors the clubs.

African football federations had requested that players be released early for pre-tournament camps. But with many of the continent’s top stars serving as key figures for their European teams — from Mohamed Salah at Liverpool to Bryan Mbeumo at Manchester United — major clubs resisted the idea of losing their leaders weeks before the competition.

Now they have formal backing. FIFA’s statement reads:
“Following the same principle applied during the FIFA World Cup 2022, the release period will be shortened by seven days and will begin on Monday, 15 December 2025.”

This decision is a major win for clubs, allowing them to keep their African players through the weekend fixtures before releasing them for a tournament that kicks off on 21 December.