DAZN has acquired the German, Austrian and Swiss rights to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2026–27 CAF Champions League, according to reports across the sports-rights industry. The agreement replaces Sportdigital, which has held the rights in those markets since 2021.
The timing of AFCON 2027 gives the tournament added commercial significance. Hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda under the Pamoja banner, the competition is scheduled for 19 June to 17 July 2027, moving away from its traditional January window and into the European summer football calendar.
With the Asian Cup scheduled for January and February and the Gold Cup largely falling outside European prime-time viewing, AFCON will occupy a relatively distinct position in the European football calendar. Around 17 Germany-based players featured at the previous edition, adding a further local connection for broadcasters and audiences in the territory.
For African rights sellers, the significance extends beyond the DAZN deal itself. A streaming-focused sports platform has secured a European territory for a major African football property from a specialist sports broadcaster, while CAF’s sub-Saharan rights for the same AFCON tournament remain subject to tender.
The deal provides another data point for rights holders assessing the changing competitive landscape for African sports content, particularly as streaming platforms increasingly compete with traditional broadcasters for premium football rights.
