Everything you need to know about the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup

Africa’s final ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be decided in Rabat next month in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all mini-tournament. Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon—each the best runners-up from CAF qualifying—will battle for the continent’s possible 10th and last World Cup pathway.

The African play-offs run from Thursday 13 November to Sunday 16 November 2025, with both semi-finals and the final staged in Morocco’s capital.

CAF has confirmed kick-off times, venues and match order, setting the stage for two blockbuster semi-finals on the opening night.

The opener pits Nigeria against Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), followed by Cameroon versus DR Congo at 20:00 local (19:00 GMT).

The champion will advance to March 2026’s FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament, where one more win secures a berth at World Cup 26 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Tournament format at a glance

• Competition: CAF African play-offs (centralised mini-tournament)

• Dates: 13–16 November 2025 (Rabat, Morocco)

• Teams: Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon

• Structure: Two single-match semi-finals, then a single-match final.

• Prize: Place in the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off (March 2026) for Africa’s possible 10th World Cup slot

Venues, fixtures and kick-off times

• Semi-finals – Thursday, 13 November (Rabat)

  • Match 1: Nigeria vs Gabon – 17:00 local (16:00 GMT)

  • Match 2: Cameroon vs DR Congo – 20:00 local (19:00 GMT)

• Stadiums: El Barid Stadium and Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex (a draw on Thursday, 30 October 2025 will assign which semi-final is played in which venue)

• Final – Sunday, 16 November (Rabat)

  • Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium – 20:00 local (19:00 GMT)

How the four teams got here

• The quartet earned entry as the best runners-up from the CAF group phase.

• Seeding was based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking (17 October 2025):

  • Team 1 – Nigeria (41) vs Team 4 – Gabon (77)

  • Team 2 – Cameroon (54) vs Team 3 – DR Congo (60)

• Nigeria snatched second in Group C with a decisive final-day win; Cameroon secured second in Group D after a tense draw; DR Congo finished second in Group B behind Senegal; Gabon trailed directly-qualified Côte d’Ivoire in their section.

What’s at stake

• The play-off winner moves on to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament in March 2026.

• Win there, and they join Africa’s nine direct qualifiers at FIFA World Cup 2026—completing the continent’s contingent.

Storylines to watch

• Heavyweights vs dark horses: Nigeria and Cameroon arrive as traditional powerhouses, while DR Congo’s tournament pragmatism and Gabon’s experienced core make both dangerous in one-off ties.

• Fine margins: With no two-leg safety net, set-pieces, discipline and bench impact could decide tight contests under knockout pressure.

• Morocco factor: Neutral but familiar North African conditions, evening kick-offs and quick turnaround (72 hours) reward depth and recovery planning.

Key dates recap

• 30 October 2025: Venue assignment draw for the two semi-finals

• 13 November 2025: Semi-finals in Rabat (17:00 & 20:00)

• 16 November 2025: Final in Rabat (20:00)