The African continent is preparing for a decisive stage in 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
African playoff will take place in Morocco this November, giving one team a final chance to reach the World Cup in the United States 2026.
African Playoff Format for 2026 World Cup
African playoff will follow a mini-tournament format featuring 4 teams, selected based on the ranking of the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups.
The winner of this playoff will advance to the intercontinental playoff to face a team from another continent for Africa’s remaining half spot.
So far, Gabon is the first team officially qualified for the playoff, topping the best runners-up ranking in Group F with 22 points.
Three more teams are expected to join, likely chosen from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, DR Congo, Uganda, and Niger.
Best Runners-Up Ranking in African Qualifiers 2026
- Gabon: Group F – 22 points (+11)
- Burkina Faso: Group A – 21 points (+15)
- Cameroon: Group D – 19 points (+12)
- DR Congo: Group B – 19 points (+8)
- Uganda: Group G – 18 points (+6)
African Playoff Match Schedule
The semi-final matches will be held on November 13, 2025, in Morocco.
While the final match is scheduled for November 16 to determine the team that will advance to the intercontinental playoff.
African Teams Directly Qualified for 2026 World Cup
Six African teams have already secured direct qualification for 2026 World Cup:
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Cape Verde
Africa continues to write a new chapter in its journey to the global stage, aiming for a strong and competitive showing at 2026 FIFA World Cup.
