The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 has significantly expanded its global footprint, with new data from the Confederation of African Football revealing more than 30% growth in media value compared to the previous edition.
According to preliminary figures, AFCON 2025 recorded a 61% increase in viewership across Europe, Asia, and South America, underlining the tournament’s rising international appeal. A full report compiled by Nielsen is expected in the coming weeks.
Broadcast Expansion Drives Growth
A key driver behind the surge was CAF’s commercial partnership with IMG, which helped deliver a 50% increase in international broadcast partners versus the 2023 edition.
New distribution deals in markets such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Mexico made the tournament the most widely available AFCON in history.
Strong Audiences Across Key Markets
Traditional European markets played a major role in the growth. In the United Kingdom and France, audiences surged, with more than three million viewers watching the final on Channel 4.
Germany also delivered strong numbers, surpassing four million viewers across the tournament.
In Brazil, viewership reached 24 million, while India recorded over 800,000 viewers via FanCode, marking a notable debut for AFCON in the market.
Commercial Value on the Rise
CAF reported a 32% increase in media value for European partners and a 35% rise in media rights revenue across Europe, Asia, and South America. Sponsor visibility also improved, reflecting stronger integration across broadcasts.
While CAF has yet to disclose total revenue figures or direct comparisons with the previous edition, the early indicators point to a competition that is rapidly scaling both commercially and globally.
As AFCON continues to expand into new territories, its evolution from a continental tournament into a truly global media property appears well underway.