3 weeks ago
4
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the venues, dates, and operation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs, mounting up a tense last hurdle for Nigeria and 3 different nations hoping to drawback the continent’s past qualification spot.
In a circular issued to each subordinate associations, CAF revealed that Morocco — big of the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations — volition besides signifier the African playoffs for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The mini-tournament volition bring unneurotic the 4 champion runners-up from the 9 qualification groups aft Matchday 10.
According to the schedule, the semi-final matches volition beryllium played connected November 13, 2025, with the last taking spot 3 days aboriginal connected November 16, 2025.
CAF disclosed that the October 2025 FIFA World Rankings, to beryllium released connected October 23, volition find the seeding for the draw.
The top-ranked squad among the 4 runners-up volition look the fourth-ranked side, portion the 2nd and third-ranked nations volition conscionable successful the different semi-final.
As it stands, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and DR Congo (with a crippled successful hand) volition marque up the 4 runners-up acceptable to conflict for a spot successful the intercontinental playoff.
Should immoderate lucifer extremity successful a draw, other clip and, if needed, a punishment shootout volition determine the winner. Each squad volition beryllium permitted 5 substitutions, with a sixth allowed during other time.
The victor of the Moroccan playoff tourney volition beforehand to the intercontinental play-off successful March 2026, wherever they volition look absorption from Asia, South America, Oceania, and Concacaf to contention for Africa’s 10th and last summons to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria, who sealed their playoff spot with a commanding 4–0 triumph implicit Benin connected the last time of the qualifiers, volition present await the October rankings and the playoff gully to cognize their way — and imaginable opponents — successful the decisive contention to the World Cup.
The station 2026 World Cup Playoffs: Likely teams Nigeria volition meet, dates, format, venue appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
English (US) ·