The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the venue and schedule for the African Qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Inter-Continental Playoff tournament.
The decisive mini-tournament, which will determine the final African nation to compete for the continent’s last qualification slot at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, is set to take place in Rabat, Morocco, from November 13 to 16, 2025.
Four African heavyweights — Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) — will battle for the coveted opportunity. The semi-finals will be played on Thursday, November 13, at two venues: El Barid Stadium and the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex. A draw scheduled for October 30, 2025, will determine which match will be held at each venue.
The confirmed semi-final pairings are Nigeria’s Super Eagles versus Gabon, kicking off at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), and Cameroon versus DR Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
The tournament’s grand final will be held on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium, starting at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
The eventual winner will progress to the FIFA Inter-Continental Playoff in March 2026, where they will compete for Africa’s tenth and final ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
This tournament marks the last and most crucial step for one of these four nations to join Africa’s already-qualified teams on football’s biggest stage.
