European football clubs have received major news ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. FIFA has ruled that star players can remain with their clubs until December 15.
This decision delays their departure for international duty by a crucial week. It offers significant relief to top teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, and Paris Saint-Germain. Previously, these clubs faced losing key personnel for up to five weeks during the busy winter schedule.
The tournament will run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026.
Easing the Club-vs-Country Conflict
Under the original rules, players had to report to national training camps by December 8. This timeline would have deprived English Premier League clubs of vital squad members for seven or eight matches.
However, FIFA consulted with key stakeholders to reduce the impact on domestic leagues. Consequently, they pushed the release date back.
FIFA also encouraged member associations and clubs to find individual solutions. They urged “good faith bilateral discussions” to manage specific player needs effectively.
Impact on the Premier League
The adjusted schedule is critical for the English Premier League. The festive period is notoriously congested, and this ruling changes the landscape significantly.
- Liverpool: The Reds will keep Egyptian talisman Mohamed Salah for an additional week of fixtures.
- Manchester United: The Red Devils benefit immensely. They will retain Cameroon’s Bryan Mbeumo, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo, and Moroccan defender Noussair Mazraoui for crucial mid-December games.
- Manchester City: The champions will delay the release of Egyptian forward Omar Marmoush and Algerian defender Rayan Ait-Nouri.
However, the tournament still creates challenges for other teams. High-flying Sunderland could lose up to seven players. Meanwhile, relegation-battling Wolverhampton Wanderers faces the absence of five squad members.
Conversely, title contenders like Arsenal, Chelsea, and Leeds United remain largely unaffected by the call-ups.
The Situation in Europe
Across the channel, French champions Paris Saint-Germain will eventually bid farewell to Achraf Hakimi. He is the reigning African Player of the Year and a key asset.
Other European giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan, and Juventus will not see major squad disruptions.
In Germany, Bayern Munich will release Senegal forward Nicolas Jackson, currently on loan from Chelsea. However, the impact will be minimal. The Bundesliga observes a winter break from December 22 to January 8, which overlaps with the tournament’s early stages.
As the countdown to kickoff begins, heavyweights like host nation Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Senegal are tipped as favorites to lift the trophy.
