The new US Ambassador to Morocco, Richard Duke Buchan III, praised the opening ceremony of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), describing it as “spectacular,” becoming one of the first international diplomats to comment on the event hosted by the Kingdom.
In a post published on his official X account, Ambassador Buchan congratulated Morocco on the opening ceremony, saying that the country’s “passion and creativity lit up the continent,” in reference to the impact of the ceremony, which was broadcast live on several international sports channels.
The US ambassador added that, as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it is getting ready to welcome football fans from all over the world to “showcase the beauty and greatness of America.” In this context, he expressed his country’s interest in collaborating with Morocco, stressing the importance of learning from one another and building an even stronger partnership through sport.
The opening ceremony, held Sunday at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, drew a large crowd of around 60,000 spectators, who attended the ceremony and then watched the opening match of the tournament between Morocco and Comoros. The game ended with a 2–0 victory for the Moroccan national team.
The ceremony was presided over by Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, underlining the significance Morocco attaches to hosting the continental tournament. It was also attended by the President of the Union of the Comoros, along with African and international political and sports figures, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
During the opening ceremony, FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a speech in which he welcomed all participating teams and African fans to Morocco. He expressed his pleasure at being present at the event and described the Moroccan-hosted AFCON as the “best edition in the history of the tournament.”
Infantino’s remarks were echoed by figures released by CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba, who said that AFCON 2025 matches, running from December 21, 2025 to January 18, 2026, will be broadcast in all 54 African countries, as well as in 30 European countries, including 18 that are airing the tournament for the first time.
Mosengo-Omba also noted that viewership estimates in countries outside Africa, such as Brazil, range between 30 and 40 million viewers, reflecting the growing global audience for African football.
Earlier this month, CAF announced a record number of 20 broadcast rights agreements covering more than 30 European countries. Among the most notable deals is a historic agreement with the UK’s Channel 4, which will air all 52 matches free-to-air for the first time, alongside new agreements in Spain, Greece, Norway, and other European countries.
On the attendance front, Morocco 2025 is also expected to break several records, with more than one million tickets already sold. By comparison, the previous edition hosted by Côte d’Ivoire recorded a total attendance of nearly 1.2 million spectators.
This strong turnout is supported by Morocco’s advanced sports infrastructure, world-class stadiums, and modern transport and logistics networks, factors expected to raise the tournament’s organizational standards.
Financially, CAF’s 2025–2026 budget projects total revenues from broadcasting and media rights at $81.16 million, while Anadolu Agency estimates direct advertising and broadcasting revenues at around $112.84 million. According to these estimates, Morocco is expected to benefit from around 20% of these revenues, equivalent to approximately $22.5 million.
