Was AFCON 2025 Morocco a Testing Ground for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

AFCON 2026 in Morocco has reignited a familiar debate in African football: fairness in officiating and the influence of host advantage. As attention turns to the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, many fans are asking whether the Morocco tournament offered an early preview of what lies ahead.Throughout AFCON 2025, a section of supporters argued that host nation Morocco benefited from favourable refereeing decisions on their road to the final. The most controversial moment came in the group-stage match between Tanzania and Morocco, where Tanzanian fans insist a clear penalty was denied in injury time—an incident that may have altered the outcome.With VAR heavily involved and commercial stakes high, the tournament mirrored the conditions expected at the World Cup. While CAF has defended its officials, the lingering perception of bias highlights a deeper issue: credibility. If AFCON 2025 was a rehearsal, it underscored the need for transparency, consistency, and trust ahead of 2026.