Morocco has been officially confirmed as the host for the Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoff mini-tournament next month. This crucial event will determine Africa’s final representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoff.
The tournament is set to feature the four best-ranked runners-up from the nine CAF qualifying groups, all competing for a single slot in the intercontinental stage.
Key Details and Schedule
The mini-tournament will take place in Morocco with the following schedule:
- Semi-Finals: November 13th
- Final: November 16th
The four teams will be paired based on the latest FIFA rankings: the highest-ranked side will play the lowest-ranked, and the second-highest will face the third-highest.
The eventual winner of the final will secure a place in the intercontinental playoff, scheduled for March, where they will compete for one of the final spots in the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US.
2026 World Cup Qualification Status
Africa is guaranteed nine direct qualification slots for the World Cup. As of Monday, October 13, 2025, six nations have already secured their place in the finals:
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Algeria
- Egypt
- Ghana
- Cape Verde
The remaining three direct qualification slots, as well as the four best runners-up for the Moroccan playoff, will be finalized following the results of the final round of group matches on Tuesday, October 14th.
By Samson Jura
