The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed the locations, schedule, and structure for the African playoff of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, preparing for a crucial contest in November 2025.
CAF has slated the semifinals matches for November 13, 2025, with the final set to take place on November 16 of the same year.
African giants such as Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon, as the best runners-up, will battle for their final spot to join the Continental playoffs in the race to the America’s World Cup.
Competing in a mini-tournament that includes semifinals and a final. The victor of this mini-tournament will then advance to the intercontinental playoff, where teams from other confederations will vie for a coveted spot in the World Cup finals.
The final nine African teams that have already punched their tickets for the tournament are Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, South Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde, making it for the first time, the Ivory Coast and Senegal.
This initiative underscores Morocco’s rising profile as a premier hub for African football, as it is also set to host the African Cup of Nations in 2025 (AFCON) and the FIFA World Cup in 2030.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe lauded Morocco’s expanding influence in global football, highlighting the country’s “exceptional leadership and commitment to fostering football development across Africa.”
