Photo by Kab Visuals via Pexels
Public celebrations linked to the Africa Cup of Nations will not be allowed on the Champs-Élysées during the group stage of the competition. The restriction applies throughout the opening phase of the tournament and targets spontaneous gatherings often associated with major international football events.
According to Le Parisien, the measure is part of a broader crowd-management framework put in place in Paris during a period marked by heavy tourist flows and multiple public events. The report indicates that the objective is to limit congestion and maintain public order on one of the city’s most symbolic and densely visited avenues.
The restriction concerns only the group-stage matches and does not automatically extend to the knockout rounds. Any change later in the tournament would depend on the evolving context and security assessment. The ban does not prevent supporters from following matches or celebrating elsewhere in the city, as gatherings remain permitted in private venues, cafés, and controlled spaces.
While AFCON 2025 takes place in Morocco, its impact extends well beyond the host nation. The Paris decision highlights how major international tournaments can influence public-space policies in European capitals with strong football and African communities, even when the competition is held abroad.
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