The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that Morocco will host the playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The announcement brings clarity to one of the most anticipated stages of the qualification process, which will determine Africa’s final representative for the intercontinental playoffs.
According to CAF, the mini-tournament will feature four teams and will take place over a four-day period in November 2025. The semi-final matches are scheduled for November 13, while the final will be played on November 16. All fixtures will be staged in Morocco, a country that has become a preferred destination for major CAF events due to its world-class facilities, infrastructure, and experience in hosting international competitions.
The playoffs will feature the four best second-placed teams from the nine qualifying groups in the African zone. These teams will battle for one available slot to advance to the intercontinental playoff round. CAF also announced that the official FIFA world rankings for October 2025 will be used to determine the seedings for the draw.
Under the seeding arrangement, the highest-ranked team among the four will face the lowest-ranked side, while the second and third-ranked teams will clash in the other semi-final. The winners of both semi-final encounters will then meet in the final, where the overall victor will progress to the intercontinental playoff stage.
The intercontinental playoff will be held in March 2026 and will feature six teams from different confederations, including representatives from Asia, South America, Oceania, and the CONCACAF region. The African playoff winner will need to overcome one of these opponents to book a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
This new qualification pathway is part of the expanded World Cup format, which will feature 48 teams for the first time. Africa has been allocated nine direct slots, with the possibility of a tenth through the intercontinental playoff. The change gives more African nations the opportunity to reach football’s biggest stage, raising hopes across the continent of a stronger representation in 2026.
CAF has praised Morocco’s readiness to host the playoff tournament, citing its strong football culture, advanced stadiums, and proven track record in organizing major events, such as the 2023 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations and the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
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