Egypt considering bid to host 2028 AFCON, federation official says

The Egyptian Football Federation is exploring the possibility of bidding to host the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations as part of a wider strategy to stage major international football tournaments in the future.

Hamada El-Sherbini, a member of the federation’s board of directors, revealed that discussions are underway over a potential bid for the continent’s flagship international competition, which is organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Speaking during a phone interview with Mega FM, El-Sherbini said the proposal forms part of a broader vision to strengthen Egypt’s sporting infrastructure and position the country as a leading destination for major football events.

According to the federation official, the immediate priority is to continue upgrading stadiums and other sporting facilities before submitting what it hopes will be a competitive bid to host the 2028 AFCON.

He explained that improving existing infrastructure remains central to the federation’s long-term plans and would provide the foundation for hosting tournaments on an even bigger scale in the years ahead.

Beyond the Africa Cup of Nations, El-Sherbini indicated that the federation’s ambitions extend further, with the ultimate objective of pursuing the opportunity to host a FIFA World Cup.

The official linked those aspirations to the momentum created by Egypt’s participation at the 2026 World Cup, describing the enthusiasm shown by supporters as an important source of motivation for the federation’s future projects.

He also expressed appreciation to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for recognising the achievements of the national team following its historic run at the tournament.

Egypt advanced to the Round of 32 before seeing their campaign come to an end with a defeat to Argentina in the Round of 16.

El-Sherbini believes those achievements have strengthened confidence in Egyptian football and reinforced the country’s ability to organise major international competitions.

According to reports by Goal, the federation official said Egypt already possesses the experience and much of the infrastructure required to stage football’s biggest events, while ongoing development projects are expected to further enhance those capabilities.

For now, the federation’s focus remains on assessing the feasibility of a bid for the 2028 Africa Cup of Nations.

If plans progress, the tournament would represent another significant step in Egypt’s long-term ambition to establish itself as a regular host of elite international football competitions and eventually mount a bid to stage the FIFA World Cup.