CAF: AFCON Emerges as One of the World’s Fastest-Growing Sports Events

Early research numbers released by independent agencies show a 61% increase in viewership for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 across European, Asian and South American markets, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

The preliminary figures highlight record-breaking global coverage that has propelled AFCON into new international prominence, with the United Kingdom and France leading the European contribution to the surge.

CAF’s commercial partnership with global sports marketing agency IMG helped secure a 50 % increase in international broadcast partners compared to the 2023 edition, including first-time deals in Japan, China, South Korea, Mexico, Greece, Colombia and other key territories.

In South America, Brazil contributed strongly with more than 24 million viewers, while Mexico added nearly 2 million to the tournament’s international audience.

CAF also reported that its global media distribution strategy, including shoulder content production and highlights distribution, led to a 65 % rise in media exposure for brand partners in these markets.

The full research report, to be published by Nielsen in the coming weeks, is expected to offer deeper insights into how AFCON 2025’s global footprint expanded beyond Africa’s traditional fan base.

“The expansion of broadcast reach and growth in key markets is a testament to AFCON’s rising global appeal,” a CAF communication noted in the release.