Rabat, Morocco: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Morocco will host the African Qualifiers Play-off Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) set to battle for the continent’s final slot.
The four-nation tournament, scheduled for November 13 to 16, 2025, will take place in Rabat, featuring two semi-final ties and a grand final to determine who represents Africa in the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-offs in March 2026.
According to CAF, the semi-final matches will be played on Thursday, November 13, at El Barid Stadium and Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, following a draw held on October 30.
In the opening fixture, Nigeria will take on Gabon, while Cameroon face Democratic Republic of Congo in the second semi-final clash.
The final will be played on Sunday, November 16, at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The winner will go on to represent Africa in the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-offs, where they will compete against teams from other continents for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
CAF said Morocco was chosen to host the mini-tournament due to its modern football infrastructure, strong organizational record, and proven experience hosting major continental events, including the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the upcoming 2025 AFCON.
“Morocco continues to demonstrate readiness and reliability in organizing international football competitions,” CAF said in a statement. “This tournament will determine the tenth African representative at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Path to the World Cup
The African Play-off winner will join nine other CAF-qualified nations for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The FIFA Inter-Continental Play-off will feature six teams from different continents, competing for the last two slots at the 48-nation global finals.
Thursday, November 13
El Barid Stadium, Rabat: Nigeria vs Gabon
Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, Rabat: Cameroon vs DR Congo
Sunday, November 16
🏆 Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium: Final — Winners of Semi-finals
