The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has confirmed that the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs will be played in Morocco.
The mini-tournament will determine the countries that will represent Africa in the intercontinental play-offs.
The semi-final fixtures are billed for November 13, 2025, while the final will be played November 16, 2025.
Four best second-placed teams from the nine groups will qualify for the playoffs.
As it stands, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and DR Congo (with a game in hand) will make up the four runners-up set to battle for a place in the intercontinental playoff.
According to CAF, FIFA rankings in October will determine the seeding for the draw.
The top-ranked country will play against the fourth-best, while the second and third-ranked teams will face each other.
Should any match end in a draw, extra time and, if needed, a penalty shootout will decide the winner. Each team will be permitted five substitutions, with a sixth allowed during extra time.
The winner will then take part in the intercontinental play-offs in March 2026. They will face countries from Asia, South America, Oceania, or CONCACAF for one spot at the tournament.
Nigeria, who sealed their playoff spot with a commanding 4–0 victory over Benin on the final day of the qualifiers, will now await the October rankings and the playoff draw to know their path — and potential opponents — in the decisive race to the World Cup.
0 Comments