The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that Morocco will host the decisive African play-off tournament for the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to take place in November 2025.
The mini-tournament will determine which African nation earns the final spot in the intercontinental play-offs for a place at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
In a statement signed by Samson Adamu, CAF’s Director of Competitions and Events, the governing body revealed that the semi-finals will be played on 13 November 2025, followed by the final on 16 November 2025.
Morocco, which will also host the Africa Cup of Nations, has been selected to stage this crucial final qualifying phase.
The competition will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups, based on standings following the 10th and final round of qualification matches scheduled for mid-October 2025.
CAF confirmed that the official FIFA world rankings of 23 October 2025 will be used to determine the seedings for the semi-final draw.
According to the outlined format, “the highest-ranked team will meet the fourth-ranked side, while the second-ranked nation will face the third.”
The two semi-final winners will then clash in the final, with the victor earning the right to represent Africa in the intercontinental play-offs in March 2026.
Competition for this coveted spot is expected to be fierce, with several nations still in contention, including Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, Burkina Faso, and Madagascar, alongside other potential dark horses.
With only one slot available for the intercontinental stage, every detail from seeding to preparation will carry immense significance for the participating teams.
The winner of the Moroccan tournament will proceed to the global play-off round, where they will face a team from Asia, South America, Oceania, or CONCACAF.
The eventual winner of that clash will secure Africa’s 10th and final place at the 2026 World Cup.
For many nations, this tournament represents both redemption and opportunity, a last chance to make history and join the continent’s elite on football’s biggest stage.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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