Afcon’s New Four-Year Cycle: What It Means for Traveling Fans and Host Cities

Afcon’s switch to a four-year cycle — what traveling fans and host cities really need to know

Heads up, fans and city planners: the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced in December 2025 that the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will move to a four-year cycle from 2028. That single change reshapes travel calendars, ticketing strategies, accommodation markets and the economic calculus for cities that want to host. If you plan to travel for Afcon 2028—or your city aims to bid—this guide gives the practical playbook you need in 2026.

Why this matters now (and why it surprised many)

CAF president Patrice Motsepe publicly declared the move on 20 December 2025, saying the goal is to align Afcon with global football cycles and boost the tournament’s value. The decision sparked debate because several national federation leaders said they learned about the change only at the announcement, prompting criticism that statutory consultation was incomplete. CAF has defended the process and insisted no statutes were breached.

"Tournament to be played every four years from 2028," as announced by CAF on 20 December 2025 — a shift that has immediate effects on travel and host planning.

Beyond governance questions, the practical consequences are clear: scarcity changes value. A quadrennial Afcon becomes less frequent and therefore more consequential for fans, rights holders, sponsors, airlines and hotels. That ripple affects everything from when you should buy your flight to how a host city spaces investments.

What the four-year cycle means for traveling fans

1. Travel planning shifts from reactive to strategic

Under a two-year rhythm, fans could plan more frequently and take more short-notice trips. With a four-year cadence, Afcon becomes an "event of a generation" and travel becomes a high-stakes commitment. Expect:

• Longer decision windows: fans will plan 9–18 months ahead for flights and hotels if they want reasonable rates.
• Higher price volatility: early-bird bargains will appear, but dynamic pricing will also magnify spikes as the tournament approaches.
• Increased package demand: bundled flight+hotel+ticket packages from reputable operators will sell out earlier.

Actionable fan checklist: travel planning (2026-ready)

• Book refundable or flexible fares when you purchase more than 9 months ahead; many airlines now offer tiered waivers and change credits post-2022 travel volatility.
• Sign up for official waitlists and club membership programs—CAF and national associations will roll early ticket windows for members, sponsors and travel partners.
• Consider alternative accommodation zones: staying outside the match-city centre often gives access to more options and lower prices; confirm transport links in advance.
• Use price alerts for flights and hotels, but lock in accommodation when you see a reliable property with strong reviews—supply will tighten fast.
• Buy comprehensive travel insurance that covers tournament cancellation, schedule changes and event interruptions; read exclusions for strikes or force majeure carefully.

2. Ticketing: expect innovation — and scams

A quadrennial Afcon boosts the commercial value of official match tickets and hospitality packages. That means stronger protections from organizers but also more sophisticated fraud attempts.

• Digital-first ticketing: CAF and host LOCs will increasingly use mobile wallets, QR-delivered tickets and identity-linked access to reduce fraud and touting.
• Hospitality & premium packs sell early: expect sponsors and corporate partners to snap up VIP boxes and match-day packages well ahead of general public sales.
• Risks from secondary markets: with scarcity comes scalping. Use only authorized resale platforms endorsed by CAF or the national FA.

Actionable fan checklist: ticketing

• Register for official ticketing portals the moment host cities publish timelines. Memberships and loyalty points can grant priority access.
• Enable two-factor authentication and store e-tickets in an encrypted digital wallet. Take screenshots and keep confirmation email chains.
• If buying on resale platforms, insist on platform guarantees and seller verification; avoid cash transactions.
• Consider hospitality packages (if budget allows) for a bundled, lower-risk experience that often includes accommodation and transit.

3. Accommodation demand: the peak-and-valley problem

Fewer tournaments mean hotels, short-term rentals and serviced apartments will see larger concentrated demand every four years. Expect:

• Higher peak rates: mean nightly rates and minimum-stay requirements will rise during match windows.
• Short supply spikes: even mid-tier properties will get booked weeks in advance, pushing fans to peripheral towns or cross-city stays.
• Regulatory attention: host cities may impose caps on short-term rentals or implement registration systems to control supply and pricing.

Accommodation strategies for savvy fans

• Book at least 6–12 months out for Afcon 2028 if you want central locations; consider refundable rates early and lock in a cheaper nonrefundable rate once schedules and tickets are confirmed.
• Explore serviced apartments and aparthotels for longer stays—lower nightly rates and kitchen access reduce total trip costs.
• Coordinate travel with fellow fans to share apartments or private homes; group bookings can trigger discounts and protections under host policies.
• Watch for officially sanctioned fan villages or tournament hospitality hubs; these often combine proximity, safety and shuttle transit.

What the four-year cycle means for host cities and local economies

1. Revenue concentration and the challenge of legacy planning

Host cities will get larger revenue injections every four years rather than frequent but smaller boosts. That raises both opportunity and risk:

• Higher per-event returns: sponsorships, broadcasting rights and tourism receipts should be more valuable because the event is rarer.
• Increased pressure to deliver infrastructure: host governments will need multi-year financial planning to meet stadium, transport and accommodation commitments.
• Legacy sustainability: the stakes for post-event use of infrastructure grow—unused stadiums or hotels are politically costly.

2. Hospitality sector: how to manage boom-bust cycles

Hotels and short-term rental markets must adapt to larger peaks followed by longer quiet periods. Smart strategies include:

• Implementing dynamic yield management to capture peak pricing while offering discounts off-season to local conferences and events.
• Converting some tournament-focused inventory into long-stay or corporate housing during non-event years to smooth revenue.
• Partnering with airlines, rail operators and tour operators to create bundled promotions that stabilize occupancy when the tournament is not running.

Actionable checklist for host cities (economics & planning)

1. Develop a 6–8 year infrastructure and financing plan that phases capital works well before Afcon 2028 bidding deadlines.
2. Create a legacy use plan for stadiums and transport links (health clinics, community sports centres, logistics hubs, or multi-purpose event spaces).
3. Regulate short-term rentals with registration and occupancy reporting to prevent predatory pricing and protect long-term housing stock.
4. Negotiate transport and air capacity agreements with national carriers early; temporary international routes will be sought by airlines but need guaranteed demand.
5. Invest in digital ticketing, crowd analytics and smart-stadium tech to improve safety, reduce fraud and provide sponsor value.

3. Jobs, SMEs and the local multiplier

When executed well, Afcon can trigger significant economic multipliers: food & beverage, retail, transport, and informal vendor incomes rise steeply during match windows. Because the event happens less often, cities should prioritize:

• Training and certification programs that upskill local workers in hospitality, security, and event management.
• Vendor inclusion programs that give local SMEs preferential access to concession contracts, merchandising spots and official supplier rosters.
• Microfinance or short-term credit lines for local entrepreneurs to stock inventories ahead of match windows.

Macro trends shaping Afcon travel and host strategies in 2026

Here are the broader developments to watch as Afcon 2028 planning ramps up:

• Holistic travel products: travel providers will increasingly sell integrated tickets that combine match access, accommodation and transit insurance—expect growth in this segment in 2026.
• Digital identity and ticketing tech: biometric and wallet-based tickets will reduce fraud and smooth airport and stadium access—pilots across major events in 2024–2026 informed this shift.
• Sustainability requirements: sponsors and FIFA-aligned partners demand carbon reporting; host cities will need emission-reduction plans as part of bid dossiers.
• Regional hosting models: co-hosting across neighbouring countries or cities is increasingly attractive to spread costs and leverage existing assets.

Prediction: more bundled travel tech and dynamic pricing by Afcon 2028

Expect travel-tech platforms in 2026–2028 to offer AI-driven itinerary bundles that align ticket availability with flight and hotel inventory in near real-time. For fans, that means greater convenience—if you act early. For hosts, it creates opportunities to capture more booking value through official channels.

Risks and mitigation — what both fans and cities must watch for

Main risks

• Price gouging: short-term rental spikes can price locals out of housing and raise political backlash.
• Fraud & ticket scams: greater scarcity drives more sophisticated fraud.
• Infrastructure overload: spikes in visitors can stress airports, public transit and medical services.
• Legacy liabilities: sudden demand to build stadiums without clear long-term use can leave cities with white elephants.

Mitigation strategies

• Host cities: implement transparent short-term rental rules and publish price-monitoring dashboards in contact with national competition authorities.
• CAF & LOCs: prioritize official resale platforms and clearly communicate ticket issuance and transfer rules to reduce black-market activity.
• Fans: verify resale guarantees and prefer official hospitality or packaged offerings when possible; buy travel insurance for cancellation coverage.
• All stakeholders: coordinate emergency medical capacity and surge transit plans; publish clear public transport maps and fan corridors well ahead of match windows.

Case study scenarios: two ways the four-year cycle could play out

Scenario A — Smart planning, high yield

A well-prepared host city uses the longer lead time to upgrade transport, partner with carriers for more routes, license vetted short-term rentals and invest in legacy facilities. Fans get robust official ticketing packages. The tournament generates high tourism revenue with positive local employment effects and sustainable legacy venues.

Scenario B — Rushed investment, reputational risk

A city, under political pressure, pours money into stadiums without a legacy plan and fails to regulate short-term rentals. Accommodation prices skyrocket, locals protest, and the host struggles to deliver transport and security. Long-term reputational damage reduces future tourism flows.

Practical timelines: when to act for Afcon 2028 (fan & host city edition)

Fans (timeline)

1. 2026 (now): sign up to national FA and CAF communications; set price alerts for flights/hotels; research visa requirements for likely host countries.
2. 2026–2027: confirm travel budgets; monitor ticket release phases; start applying for any required visas or e-visas as soon as dates are set.
3. 9–12 months before matches: book flights and accommodation if you need central lodgings or are traveling from overseas.
4. 3–6 months before: secure match tickets in confirmed windows and finalize local transport plans and travel insurance.

Host cities (timeline)

1. 2026: finalize bid frameworks; coordinate with national government on financing; begin stakeholder consultations (hotels, transport, tourism boards).
2. 2026–2027: issue procurement for transport upgrades, stadium refurbishment and digital ticketing; launch vendor registration programs.
3. 1–2 years before: run large-scale crowd and transport simulations; finalize fan zones; secure airline agreements for temporary routes.
4. Match season: deploy visitor services, anti-fraud operations and legacy transition teams.

Final takeaways — how to win as a fan and as a host

• Fans: treat Afcon 2028 like a major world sporting trip — early research, flexible booking strategies, official ticket channels and comprehensive insurance will be your best protections.
• Host cities: use the extra lead time to plan sustainable infrastructure and inclusive economic strategies that distribute benefits to local SMEs, not just big contractors.
• Everyone: transparency in ticketing and accommodation supply is essential. Scarcity can create value, but without governance it creates reputational risk.

Looking ahead: the future of football travel and sports tourism in Africa

By 2028, the four-year Afcon will likely be a magnet for upgraded digital travel products, deeper airline partnerships and smarter revenue capture by hosts. If CAF and national bodies prioritize transparent processes and legacy use, Afcon could become a showcase for sustainable sports tourism on the continent. If not, the change could amplify existing challenges—housing pressure, fraud and one-off infrastructure spending.

As a fan or planner, your best bet in 2026 is to act with foresight: register for official updates, plan early, and build contingencies into budgets. For host cities, the four-year cadence is not only a moment to host — it's a mandate to plan legacies that last beyond the final whistle.

Need help planning your Afcon trip or preparing your city’s bid?

We cover Afcon 2028 travel deals, trusted tour operators, and host city planning checklists. Subscribe to our Afcon travel alerts for curated package announcements, ticket windows and verified accommodation lists — and get a downloadable host-city legacy checklist to start your planning today.

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