DR Congo heads to the World Cup play-off: all you need to know about the draw and the matches! | OneFootball

DR Congo storms into the world play-off: who, when and how?

RD Congo / @x.com/yveszawadi/

The Leopards of DR Congo have secured their spot in the World Cup 2026 intercontinental play-off, after eliminating Nigeria’s Super Eagles last night 4-3 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw after regulation time and extra time in the African play-off final.

The final three teams from the CONCACAF qualifiers (North, Central America and the Caribbean) and from Asia will be revealed tomorrow, Tuesday, thus completing the list of six teams taking part in the world play-off, alongside DR Congo (Africa), Bolivia (South America), and New Caledonia (Oceania).

World play-off draw

The draw will take place Thursday at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland, based on the FIFA ranking published on 19 November 2025.

Match format

The six qualified teams will be split into two paths according to their FIFA rankings. The two highest-ranked sides will advance directly to the final of each path, while the remaining four teams will compete in the semi-finals.

The winners of those semi-finals will then take on the directly qualified teams, ensuring a balanced contest for the World Cup spots.

Venue

Mexico will host the world play-off matches, scheduled during the international window from 23 to 31 March 2026.

Currently, DR Congo is one of the highest-ranked teams among the six (60th in the world), but the competition remains fierce with teams like Iraq (59th), Panama (30th), and Costa Rica (49th) in the mix.