CAN 2025: dramatic turn as FIFA adjusts the calendar
CAN 2025: FIFA changes player release date (official)
CAN 2025 is kicking off in a charged atmosphere. For several weeks now, African national team coaches have been voicing their frustration over European clubs’ reluctance to release their internationals, despite the original rule setting player availability for December 8. FIFA has now granted an exemption, allowing clubs to keep their players for an extra week—a last-minute change that’s thrown the preparations of many teams, already in training camp, into disarray.
“In line with the same principle used for the FIFA World Cup 2022, the release period will be shortened by seven days and will begin on Monday, December 15, 2025.”
This decision reshapes the balance of power between national teams and clubs.
🚨 𝗢𝗙𝗙𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗟: 𝗙𝗜𝗙𝗔 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗢𝗪 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗞𝗘𝗘𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗜𝗥 𝗣𝗟𝗔𝗬𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗨𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗟 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 𝟭𝟱 𝗕𝗘𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗕𝗘𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗣 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗙𝗖𝗢𝗡. 🤯🌍
✍️ “In line with the same principle used for the FIFA World Cup 2022,… pic.twitter.com/Q3sw6SyX9r
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 3, 2025
While some of Europe’s top clubs are breathing a sigh of relief, African national teams are worried about the impact on their cohesion, organization, and ambitions just days before the big kick-off in Morocco.
