The Africa Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON) is set to be a thrilling tournament in Morocco, running from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026. With 24 teams competing across nine venues, the battle for continental glory will culminate in Rabat.
As the host nation and one of the tournament favourites, Morocco is determined to secure their second AFCON title since 1976. With key players like Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabat, the Atlas Lions are poised to make a strong push for glory.
You can watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland for free on Channel 4 and New World TV, while beIN Sports is a premium way to enjoy all the games.
However, these channels are unavailable in Ireland due to geo-restrictions. Surfshark is the best VPN to bypass the restrictions and stream AFCON live in Ireland.
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When and Where is AFCON 2025
- Dates: 21 December 2025 – 18 January 2026
- No. of Teams: 24
- Host Country: Morocco
- How to watch: Channel 4 (UK), New World TV (Africa), & beIN Sports (US)
How to Watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland for Free
For the first time, AFCON 2025 will be available free-to-air on Channel 4 in the UK and Ireland. All 52 matches will stream live at no cost to viewers. This groundbreaking deal brings AFCON to UK households.
Additionally, coverage will be available on Channel 4, E4, 4Seven, the Channel 4 streaming service, and the Channel 4 Sport YouTube channel, providing multiple ways to catch the action, highlights, and key moments.
Here’s how you can watch African Cup of Nations in Ireland for free:
Step 1: Open the Channel 4 website and click on Sign in
Step 2: Sign in if you have an account, or else click on Register to create a new one
Step 3: Enter your email and create a password
Step 4: Add your personal details
Step 5: Click Register
Step 6: From the homepage, go to Live TV and click TV Guide
Step 7: Choose a match from the broadcast lineup and enjoy free live streaming!
Free & Premium Ways to Watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland
The AFCON is one of the major football tournaments in Africa. The event is a live broadcast worldwide on several free and premium sports streaming services.
The premium service requires a subscription, but you can stream for free without creating an account. Below are my most recommended ways to watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland.
2. New World TV (Free)
New World TV is a free-to-air channel that has broadcast rights to all the games of AFCON 2025 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The channel is geo-restricted and is only available in Sub-Saharan regions, including South Africa. You must connect to the South African server of Surfshark to enjoy all AFCON ‘25 games for free.
3. beIN Sports (Premium)
beIN Sports owns the streaming rights of all matches of the African Cup of Nations 2025 in several regions, including MENA, Asia Pacific regions, France, and the United States.
You can enjoy beIN Sports live with the beIN Connect account. The subscription to beIN varies according to region. Plus, you can watch AFCON 2025 with beIN Connect pay-per-view: $6.99/match or $69.99 for the full tournament.
beIN Sports is also available on US-based live streaming services, such as Fubo TV, Sling TV, Hulu Live TV, YouTube TV, etc. Unfortunately, all the streaming services and beIN Connect are unavailable in Ireland due to region lock.
You can watch AFCON ‘25 live on beIN Sports with your preferred streaming service with a premium VPN, i.e., Surfshark.
Read More: Watch beIN Sports in Ireland
How to Watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland on Mobile Phones
You can stream the African Cup of Nations live on New World TV. The free channel offers its official app worldwide on the Google Play Store. However, the channel is geo-restricted, so you must use a premium VPN to access it in Ireland.
Here’s how to watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland on mobile:
Step 1: Install my recommended Surfshark VPN App on your device
Step 2: Connect to the South African Server.
Step 3: Download the New World TV app from the Google Play Store.
Step 4: Once installed, open the app.
Step 5: Swipe right.
Step 6: Select Swipe right to continue.
Step 7: Swipe right by selecting the blue arrow.
Step 8: Choose Watch Live TV Now.
Step 9: Select the live stream when it is available.
Step 10: Enjoy streaming!
Teams Playing in the African Cup of Nations 2025
A total of 24 teams, divided into six groups of four, will participate in the AFCON 2025. The following is the list of teams playing in the AFCON 2025:
- Group A: Comoros, Mali, Morocco, and Zambia
- Group B: Angola, Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe
- Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda
- Group D: Benin, Botswana, DR Congo, and Senegal
- Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan
- Group F: Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique
Schedule of the African Cup of Nations 2025
The following is the schedule of the upcoming African Cup of Nations 2025 matches:
| Date | Group & Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Dec 21 | Morocco vs Comoros | 7:00 PM |
| Monday, Dec 22 | Mali vs Zambia | 2:30 PM |
| Monday, Dec 22 | Egypt vs Zimbabwe | 5:00 PM |
| Monday, Dec 22 | South Africa vs Angola | 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 23 | Nigeria vs Tanzania | 12:00 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 23 | Tunisia vs Uganda | 2:30 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 23 | Senegal vs Botswana | 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 23 | DR Congo vs Benin | 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 24 | Algeria vs Sudan | 12:00 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 24 | Burkina Faso vs Equatorial Guinea | 2:30 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 24 | Ivory Coast vs Mozambique | 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 24 | Cameroon vs Gabon | 7:30 PM |
| Friday, Dec 26 | Morocco vs Mali | 12:00 PM |
| Friday, Dec 26 | Zambia vs Comoros | 2:30 PM |
| Friday, Dec 26 | Egypt vs South Africa | 5:00 PM |
| Friday, Dec 26 | Angola vs Zimbabwe | 7:30 PM |
| Saturday, Dec 27 | Nigeria vs Tunisia | 12:00 PM |
| Saturday, Dec 27 | Uganda vs Tanzania | 2:30 PM |
| Saturday, Dec 27 | Senegal vs DR Congo | 5:00 PM |
| Saturday, Dec 27 | Benin vs Botswana | 7:30 PM |
| Sunday, Dec 28 | Algeria vs Burkina Faso | 12:00 PM |
| Sunday, Dec 28 | Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan | 2:30 PM |
| Sunday, Dec 28 | Ivory Coast vs Cameroon | 5:00 PM |
| Sunday, Dec 28 | Gabon vs Mozambique | 7:30 PM |
| Monday, Dec 29 | Comoros vs Mali | 5:30 PM |
| Monday, Dec 29 | Zambia vs Morocco | 5:30 PM |
| Monday, Dec 29 | Angola vs Egypt | 7:30 PM |
| Monday, Dec 29 | Zimbabwe vs South Africa | 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 30 | Tanzania vs Tunisia | 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 30 | Uganda vs Nigeria | 5:00 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 30 | Benin vs Senegal | 7:30 PM |
| Tuesday, Dec 30 | Botswana vs DR Congo | 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 31 | Equatorial Guinea vs Algeria | 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 31 | Sudan vs Burkina Faso | 5:00 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 31 | Gabon vs Ivory Coast | 7:30 PM |
| Wednesday, Dec 31 | Mozambique vs Cameroon | 7:30 PM |
AFCON 2025: Morocco’s Path to Glory and Salah’s Legacy
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is poised to be one of the most exciting and unpredictable tournaments in recent memory.
As the host nation, Morocco enters the tournament as the top-ranked team in Africa, riding the wave of a historic World Cup semi-final run in 2022.
With a squad featuring star players like Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabat, the Atlas Lions are aiming to secure their second AFCON title on home soil, having last won in 1976.
At the same time, this tournament holds significant importance for Mohamed Salah, Egypt’s iconic forward, who will be looking to finally claim the AFCON trophy that has thus far eluded him.
After two heartbreaking losses in the final, Salah enters his fifth attempt to win the prestigious African title, which has been a glaring omission from his trophy-laden career.
With Egypt’s revamped squad, including rising talents and seasoned players, Salah’s leadership and experience will be pivotal as he seeks to cement his legacy as one of Africa’s greatest footballers.
Other Sports/Tournaments to Watch in Ireland
Sports lovers can watch the following sports in Ireland:
FAQs – African Cup of Nations
1. When is the Africa Cup of Nations 2025?
AFCON 2025 will take place from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026 in Morocco.
2. How many teams are participating in AFCON 2025?
24 teams will compete for the AFCON title in 2025.
3. Where can I watch AFCON 2025?
In Ireland, you can watch AFCON 2025 on Channel 4. You may also use a VPN to access coverage on beIN Sports.
4. How can I stream AFCON 2025?
You can stream AFCON 2025 through beIN Sports or New World TV using VPN services to bypass geo-restrictions. BeIN Sports also offers streaming via its BeIN SPORTS CONNECT platform.
Conclusion
The African Cup of Nations will kickstart the football year. The AFCON ‘25 is the 35th edition of the biennial tournament. The event is scheduled from 21st Dec, 2025, to 18 Jan, 2026.
You can watch the African Cup of Nations in Ireland for free on Channel 4 and New World TV. You can also enjoy all the live games if you subscribe to beIN Sports Connect or any official US-based live streaming services that offer the channel.
Howeveronly Channel 4 is available in Ireland. To access other channels/services in Ireland, you must be connected to a VPN. Surfshark is our #1 choice to bypass the restrictions and stream AFCON ‘25 live in Ireland.
