Explainer: How Africa’s 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs in Morocco will work
Four teams will meet in Morocco next month to fight for the single remaining slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining the nine nations that have already qualified.
After months of tense qualifiers across the continent, Africa's World Cup race is down to a final showdown. Four teams will meet in Morocco next month to fight for the single remaining slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, joining the nine nations that have already qualified.
This explainer breaks down how the Confederation of African Football (CAF) play-off tournament will work, explaining which teams qualified, how the matchups were decided and what happens after the final whistle in Morocco as Africa fights for its last ticket to the event.
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The nine teams already heading to the World Cup
Egypt (Group A), Senegal (B), South Africa (C), Cape Verde (D), Morocco (E), Ivory Coast (F), Algeria (G), Tunisia (H) and Ghana (I) all booked direct qualification to the 2026 World Cup after finishing top of their qualifying groups. They will now represent Africa at the tournament to be hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
How the fixtures were set
Since only the group winners qualified automatically, CAF compared the nine runners-up to find the best four. Results against the lowest-ranked sides in each group were left out, except in Group E, where Eritrea's withdrawal meant every match counted. After the adjustment, Gabon, Cameroon, Nigeria, and DR Congo finished as the top four runners-up, narrowly edging out Burkina Faso and Niger.
When and where will the play-offs take place?
The mini-tournament will take place in Morocco in November 2025 and will follow a knockout format. The semi-finals are set for November 13, featuring Gabon against Nigeria and Cameroon against DR Congo. The teams were seeded according to FIFA's October 2025 World Rankings, with the highest-ranked side meeting the lowest and the other two playing each other. The two winners will then clash in the CAF Play-Off Final on November 16 to decide who advances to the next stage.
What awaits the winner
Winning the playoff in Morocco will not automatically earn a World Cup spot. The champion will move on to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament in March 2026, which serves as the final stage of qualification for the World Cup.
The tournament will bring together six teams: two from North America and one each from Asia, South America, Oceania and Africa. They will compete for the last two remaining spots at the 2026 World Cup.
The stakes for Africa's final four
For Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon, this is more than just another qualifier; it is a final shot at redemption. With only one World Cup ticket left on the line, Morocco will decide whose dream stays alive.
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