Hossam Ahmed
October 15, 2025The African playoff for the 2026 World Cup: dates, teams and path until the inter-confederation playoff
The African playoff for the 2026 World Cup: dates, teams and path until the inter-confederation playoff
With the main stage of the African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup concluded, nine nations have booked their direct tickets to the finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia, and Ghana have secured their spots to represent the continent on the world’s biggest football stage.
But for four other teams, the dream is not over; it has just entered its most grueling and exciting phase through the African play-off.
This play-off offers a final opportunity for the four best second-placed teams from the group stage, who will compete in a mini-knockout tournament to determine which nation will have the honor of representing Africa in the Inter-confederation play-off.
To ensure the highest levels of organization and neutrality, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to host all matches of this play-off in Morocco, a country known for its world-class stadiums and advanced infrastructure.
However, the grand prize in this play-off is not a direct ticket to the World Cup. The winner of the final match in Morocco will only secure a spot in the Inter-confederation play-off, a final tournament featuring six teams from different continental confederations competing for the last two spots at the 2026 World Cup.
This reality adds a complex layer of psychological pressure on the participating teams; celebrating a victory in the African play-off will be temporary, as the focus will quickly shift to a more difficult and challenging global showdown in March 2026. It is not the final stop, but a gateway to a final battle no less fierce than the ones before it.
The Four Teams in the African Play-off
Four nations have qualified for this decisive play-off after delivering strong performances in the group stage but falling short of securing the top spot. Each team enters this mini-tournament with a different story and varying motivations, creating a unique clash between historical ambitions and a desire to salvage reputations.
1. Nigeria.
2. Cameroon.
3. DR Congo.
4. Gabon.
African Play-off Match Schedule for 2026 World Cup
The following table shows the dates and matches for the African play-off, which will be held entirely in Morocco:
