The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, bringing together Africa's leading national teams for the continent's flagship international tournament.
As with previous editions, the Premier League will be well represented at the tournament, with 32 players currently selected to take part.
Their absence will span one of the busiest periods of the Premier League season, meaning clubs and fans alike will be closely monitoring when players may return, depending on how far their country progresses.
Dates for AFCON 2025 group stage schedule
The tournament starts on Sunday 21 December 2025, with hosts Morocco facing Comoros in the opening match. The group stage runs until Wednesday 31 December, concluding with the final Group F fixtures.
Dates for knockout stages of AFCON 2025
Round of 16: 3-6 January
Quarter-finals: 9-10 January
Semi-finals: 14 January
Third-place playoff: 17 January
Final: 18 January
When could Premier League players return?
AFCON overlaps with a crucial phase of the Premier League season, including festive fixtures and the early January schedule.
A group stage elimination for certain players could lead to their return as early as Matchweek 20, starting on 3 January, meaning they would miss only three Premier League matches.
Players whose nation were eliminated in the round of 16 may become available in Matchweeks 21-22. While those exiting the tournament in the quarter-finals are likely to remain unavailable until mid-January with a potential return in Matchweek 22.
Going all the way to the semi-finals and the final means missing out on six round of matches, as there’s a third-place playoff to contest too, therefore they will return in Matchweek 23 commencing on 24 January.
Premier League schedule during AFCON
MW17 Saturday 20 December
Newcastle v Chelsea
AFC Bournemouth v Burnley
Brighton v Sunderland
Man City v West Ham
Wolves v Brentford
Spurs v Liverpool
Everton v Arsenal
Leeds v Crystal Palace
Sunday 21 December
Aston Villa v Man Utd
Monday 22 December
Fulham v Nottingham Forest
MW18 Friday 26 December
Manchester United v Newcastle United
Saturday 27 December
Nottingham Forest v Manchester City
Arsenal v Brighton & Hove Albion
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth
Burnley v Everton
Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
West Ham United v Fulham
Chelsea v Aston Villa
Sunday 28 December
Sunderland v Leeds United
Crystal Palace v Tottenham Hotspur
MW19 Tuesday 30 December
Burnley v Newcastle
Chelsea v Bournemouth
Nottingham Forest v Everton
West Ham v Brighton
Arsenal v Aston Villa
Man Utd v Wolves
Thursday 1 January 2026
Crystal Palace v Fulham
Liverpool v Leeds
Brentford v Spurs
Sunderland v Man City
MW20 Saturday 3 January
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Brighton v Burnley
Wolves v West Ham
Bournemouth v Arsenal
Sunday 4 January
Leeds v Man Utd
Everton v Brentford
Fulham v Liverpool
Newcastle v Crystal Palace
Spurs v Sunderland
Man City v Chelsea
MW21 Tuesday 6 January
West Ham v Nottingham Forest
Wednesday 7 January
Bournemouth v Spurs
Brentford v Sunderland
Crystal Palace v Aston Villa
Everton v Wolves
Fulham v Chelsea
Man City v Brighton
Burnley v Man Utd
Newcastle v Leeds
Thursday 8 January
Arsenal v Liverpool
MW22 Saturday 17 January
Man Utd v Man City
Chelsea v Brentford
Leeds v Fulham
Liverpool v Burnley
Sunderland v Crystal Palace
Spurs v West Ham
Nottingham Forest v Arsenal
Sunday 18 January
Wolves v Newcastle
Aston Villa v Everton
Monday 19 January
Brighton v Bournemouth
MW23 Saturday 24 January
West Ham v Sunderland
Burnley v Spurs
Fulham v Brighton
Man City v Wolves
Bournemouth v Liverpool
Sunday 25 January
Brentford v Nottingham Forest
Crystal Palace v Chelsea
Newcastle v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Man Utd
Monday 26 January
Everton v Leeds