South Africa to Host 2026 Women's AFCON After Morocco Withdrawal

South Africa has agreed to host the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after Morocco pulled out. The tournament is set to take place from March 17 to April 3, 2026.

The decision to host the event in South Africa was confirmed by the country's Deputy Minister of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Peace Mabe, during a ceremony in Johannesburg. Morocco's withdrawal has raised concerns, especially since the country recently hosted the Men's Africa Cup of Nations.

The 2026 Women's AFCON will feature an expanded 16-team format and serve as a qualifying route for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The reasons behind Morocco's withdrawal are not officially stated, but speculation suggests it could be due to domestic pressures following controversies during the recent AFCON final in Rabat.

The exact impact on the tournament's schedule remains uncertain following the last-minute change in the host nation.