AFCON 2025: Why Your Christmas Football Calendar Just Got Better
Forget the Winter Break, The World's Most Exciting Tournament Is Here While Europe's top leagues pause for breath, Africa delivers the antidote to December football fatigue: The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
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For the first time in its 68-year history, AFCON lands squarely in the Christmas and New Year period (December 21, 2025 - January 18, 2026) turning your festive football calendar from sparse to spectacular.
This isn’t the ‘farmer’s league’ tournament it once was. This is 24 (ever-improving) nations, 52 matches, and 29 days of non-stop drama, featuring world class talents like Ashraf Hakimi, Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush, Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Bryan Mbeumo representing their countries in Africa's most prestigious competition.
And here's the thing most London and Birmingham venues haven't figured out yet: AFCON watch parties deliver atmosphere, cultural celebration, and electric viewing experiences that European fixtures simply can't match. Who can forget the vibes immortalised during the 2010 World Cup - Waka Waka.
TOCA Social is championing this. While traditional sports bars treat AFCON as background noise, TOCA recognizes what those with true ball knowledge have always known: this tournament rivals any football spectacle on Earth.
Why AFCON 2025 Is Different: The Christmas Convergence
The Schedule Shift That Disrupts And Delights
AFCON has historically been played in January-February to navigate the African climate challenges. But the expansion of FIFA's 2025 Club World Cup, and the FIFA World Cup in 2026, forced CAF (Confederation of African Football) to shift the 2025 tournament into December.
The result? AFCON now runs parallel to many European leagues' winter break.
For football fans, this creates an unprecedented viewing opportunity: when domestic leagues pause, AFCON provides world-class football without interruption.
Tournament Timeline:
Group Stage: December 21-31
Round of 16: January 3-6
Quarter-Finals: January 9-10
Semi-Finals: January 14
Third-Place Playoff: January 17
Final: January 18 (Rabat, Morocco)
Morocco: The Perfect Host
Morocco hosts AFCON for the second time (first was 1988), bringing world-class infrastructure to the tournament:
Six Host Cities: Rabat (4 venues including opening match and final), Casablanca, Marrakech, Agadir, Tangier (76,500-capacity Grand Stade), Fès.
Nine Stadiums upgraded to international standards, including the newly-built Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
The Atlas Lions are also favorites to win their first AFCON since 1976, adding home-crowd pressure to every Morocco match.
The Must-Watch Fixtures: Your AFCON 2025 Viewing Guide
Opening Match: Morocco vs Comoros (December 21, 12pm GMT)
Venue: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat
Why Watch: Tournament opener featuring hosts Morocco, expect 50,000+ attendance and electric atmosphere. Morocco enter as heavy favorites after their stunning 2022 World Cup semi-final run. But opening matches carry pressure: no host has won AFCON on North African soil since Nigeria triumphed in Tunisia (1994).
Group Stage Headliners
Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
Key Match: Morocco vs Mali (December 26, 3pm GMT)
Two former champions (Morocco 1976, Mali never) battle on Boxing Day.
Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
Key Match: Egypt vs South Africa (December 26, 3pm GMT)
Seven-time winners Egypt (record holders) face 1996 champions South Africa.
Group C: Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda
Key Match: Nigeria vs Tunisia (December 27, 12pm GMT)
Three-time champions Nigeria against 2004 winners Tunisia—tactical masterclass expected.
Group D: Senegal, Botswana, DR Congo, Benin
Key Match: DR Congo vs Senegal (December 27, 3pm GMT)
Two-time winners DR Congo against reigning champions Senegal (2021).
Group E: Algeria, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea
Key Match: Algeria vs Burkina Faso (December 28, 12pm GMT)
2019 champions Algeria face perennial dark horses Burkina Faso.
Group F: Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Cameroon, Gabon (The Group of Death)
Key Match: Ivory Coast vs Cameroon (December 28, 3pm GMT)
Defending champions (Ivory Coast, 2023) vs five-time winners (Cameroon) - arguably the tournament's standout group-stage fixture.
Players to Watch
Mohamed Salah (Egypt, Liverpool): Africa's most recognizable player seeks his first AFCON title after heartbreaking 2021 final defeat to Senegal on penalties.
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Fenerbahce): Finished AFCON 2023 as top scorer despite Nigeria losing the final to Ivory Coast.
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta): Scored in the 2023 final; electric pace and creativity make him a must-watch viewing.
Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon, Manchester United): One of the Premier League's most in-form attackers heading into AFCON.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco, PSG): Current African player of the year. Immense.
Alex Iwobi (Nigeria, Fulham): Versatile midfielder who elevated Nigeria to the 2023 final.
Amadou Onana (Senegal, Aston Villa): Dynamic midfielder for defending 2021 champions Senegal.
Pape Matar Sarr (Senegal, Tottenham): Young midfield talent representing Senegal's next generation.
AFCON 2025 Predictions
Winner: Morocco (Home advantage proves decisive).
Runner-Up: Nigeria (Heartbreak continues).
Surprise Semi-Finalist: DR Congo (Dark horse emerges).
Top Scorer: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria).
Breakthrough Star: El Khannouss (Morocco).
The AFCON Watch Party Experience: What Makes It Different
It's Not Just Football… It's a Cultural Celebration.
If you've only watched European football in pubs, AFCON watch parties will feel transformative.
The Atmosphere Difference: Where Premier League watch parties might be 70% focused on the match and 30% socialising, AFCON watch parties flip that dynamic. The match provides the structure, but the celebration encompasses music, food, conversation, cultural pride, and community bonding. This isn't passive viewing. It's active participation.
The Diaspora Factor: London & Birmingham's African Communities
In recent years England’s national team has benefited from the representation of players with African heritage, but for many of these communities, alongside their three lions pride, AFCON represents more than sport. It's a connection to home, family, heritage, and identity.
CAF's London Diaspora Tour (November 28, 2025): The Confederation of African Football brought the AFCON trophy to Piccadilly Circus, attracting football legends Alex Song and Alex Iwobi, Ghanaian music icon Stonebwoy, Nigerian artist Odumodublvck, and former Arsenal executive David Dein.
Dein's observation captured the moment: "African football is experiencing an exciting new era... this event in London has been a great success and advertisement for African football."
The diaspora tour signals CAF's recognition: AFCON's biggest audiences aren't just in Africa. They're in London, Paris, New York, Toronto, and everywhere the African diaspora has planted roots.
Where to Watch AFCON in London: The Venue Breakdown
TOCA Social: The O2 & Westfield White City
The O2 (Greenwich): Best for South/East London African communities. Capacity: 700. Transport: North Greenwich (Jubilee Line). Parking: 2,000+ spaces.
Westfield White City (Shepherd's Bush): Best for West London communities. Capacity: 1,000. Transport: Wood Lane / Shepherd's Bush (Central, Circle lines). Parking: 4,500 spaces.
AFCON in Birmingham: The Midlands' African Football Hub
Why Birmingham Matters for AFCON
Birmingham's African diaspora, particularly Nigerian, Ghanaian, Zimbabwean, and Somali communities, makes it the UK's second-most important city for AFCON viewing after London.
TOCA Social Birmingham: Bullring
- Address: 11 St Martin's Walk, Bullring, Birmingham B5 4BU
- Capacity: 1,000 guests | 23 interactive boxes | 4 bars
- Transport: 1-minute walk from Birmingham New Street Station
Why TOCA Social Birmingham Wins for AFCON:
1. Central Midlands Location
2. Capacity for Large Groups
3. The Cultural Menu
4. Package Pricing Advantage
5. Safe Celebration Space
How to Book Your AFCON Watch Party
TOCA Social bookings are open now. To secure your ideal time slot:
2 - 24 players: Book Now
25 + players: Book Events
Select your location. Choose your package and number of guests.
Add optional extras such as cocktail upgrades or festive food platters.
For event bookings, enter your preferences and contact details. A specialised event coordinator will contact you to discuss bespoke packages or full venue hire options, from there they will plan your dream event.
The Christmas Football Calendar: Combining AFCON + Premier League
Key Dates:
Dec 21: AFCON opening match. PL standard fixtures.
Dec 26 (Boxing Day): AFCON matches (3pm). PL Man Utd vs Newcastle (8pm).
Dec 27-28: AFCON key group games. PL full Gameweek 18.
Dec 29-31: AFCON group conclusions. PL winter break.
Jan 1: AFCON rest day. PL New Year fixtures.
Jan 3-6: AFCON Round of 16. PL returns.
Jan 9-18: AFCON Knockouts. PL midweek fixtures.
TOCA Social AFCON Screenings → AFCON Fixtures At TOCA Social
TOCA Social Premier League Screenings → Premier League Fixtures At TOCA Social
The Bottom Line: Why AFCON 2025 Matters
For 68 years, the Africa Cup of Nations has delivered drama, passion, and world-class football that rivals any tournament on Earth. For the first time, it arrives during the Festive season, giving UK football fans unprecedented access to a tournament that many have only caught glimpses of in January.
Why TOCA Social champions this: Because football belongs to everyone. Because African communities deserve venues that welcome their culture, not just tolerate it. Because AFCON deserves the same respect as the Premier League, Champions League, or any European competition.
This Christmas, don't just watch the matches you always watch. Expand your football world. Experience AFCON. Feel the atmosphere. Understand why this tournament captivates a continent.
TOCA Social is ready. The question is: are you?
Check Real-Time Availability | Request Corporate Quote (100+ guests) | Read 1,000+ Five-Star Reviews
TOCA Social is the world’s first interactive football and dining experience, combining interactive football experiences, immersive gaming and world class food and drink.
Book now or walk-in to enjoy our fantastic food and drinks, as well as foosball tables, arcades, selfie booths and more.
If you need to move dates or cancel for a full refund, this is easily done ahead of time with a quick call or email.
Spaces At the o2
PLAYER'S LOUNGE
Capacity: 250
Seats: 80
Boxes: 4
Our purpose-build space for private events. Ideal for team socials, seasonal celebrations, away days, and the list doesn't stop there -the versatile space really can do pretty much anything you need!
The Player's Lounge can be found on the upper mezzanine overlooking our main London activity bar venue, enabling you to soak up the atmosphere from your very own exclusive floor.
With four boxes for playing in, your own private Mezcal bar and even your own photo booth to capture your event, inject some VIP treatment into your next event by claiming the Player's Lounge for yourself.
CORNER BAR
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Capacity: 200
Seats: 150
Boxes: 7
Our Corner Bar event space offers an ideal location for your next private event for up to 200 guests.
Seven Boxes for playing our high tech immersive games, a large networking and interactive space complete with foosball tables and vintage arcade games and not to mention your very own exclusive Bar and WC's.
Experience fun activities at the best activity bar in London!
What more could you need to offer your guests the VIP TOCA treatment?
FULL VENUE
Capacity: 700
Seats: 200
Boxes: 17
Split over two floors, the Midfield Bar, Corner Bar and Player's Lounge provide three different bars to choose from, photo booths, foosball tables, and even a dessert room. Our London games bar has spaces that can be exclusively hired, privatised or semi-privatised to fit your needs.
From meetings and product launches to after-work socials and seasonal parties, if your numbers are anything from 12 - 700, then give your next event a spectacular home and experience fun activities inside The O2.
EXECUTIVE BOXES
Capacity: 50
Seats: 50
Boxes: 1
Looking for your own private space but still want to be part of the hustle and bustle? TOCA Social has got you covered.
The executive boxes at our London activity bar offer the best of both worlds. In our Executive Boxes you will find two private Boxes for game time and plenty of networking spaces in between.
Located on the upper mezzanine level of the venue, this space is perfect for up to 50 guests whilst offering that VIP exclusive environment.
Spaces At Birmingham Bullring
FULL VENUE
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Capacity: 1000
Seats: 500
Boxes: 23
The entire venue boasts a capacity of 1000.
Split over the same floor, the Midfield Bar, Right Wing and Corner Bar with two different bars to choose from, photo booths, foosball tables, and even AV Equipment, our flexible spaces can be exclusively hired, privatised or semi-privatised to fit your needs.
From meetings and product launches to after-work socials and seasonal parties, if your numbers are anything from 12 - 1000, then give your next event a spectacular home at TOCA Social
CORNER BAR
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Capacity: 300
Seats: 250
Boxes: 8
Our Corner Bar event space offers an ideal location for your next private event for up to 300 guests.
Eight Boxes at our Birmingham games bar for playing our high tech immersive games, a large networking and interactive space complete with foosball tables and vintage arcade games, your own photo booth to catch all the action and not to mention your very own exclusive Bar and WC's.
What more could you need to offer your guests the VIP TOCA treatment?
LEFT WING
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Capacity: 60
Seats: 50
Boxes: 3
Our Left Wing event space offers an ideal location for your next private event for up to 60 guests.
Three Boxes for playing our high tech immersive games, a large networking and interactive space complete with your very own private meeting room space at our amazing activity bar in Birmingham.
Fun activities in Birmingham experienced here!
EXECUTIVE BOX
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Capacity: 40
Seats: 30
Boxes: 1
Looking for your own private space but still want to be part of the hustle and bustle? TOCA Social has got you covered.
In our Executive Box you will find your own private Box for game time and plenty of networking spaces in between.
Located on the lower level of the venue in your own private area, the Executive Box at our Birmingham activity bar is perfect for up to 40 guests whilst offering that VIP exclusive environment.
RIGHT WING
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Capacity: 30
Seats: 20
Boxes: 2
Our Right Wing event space offers an ideal location for your next private event for up to 30 guests.
Two Boxes for playing our high tech immersive games, a large networking and interactive space. With 20 Seats for you and your guests offering you a private area of our games bar in Birmingham.
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