World Cup 2026 African zone play-offs: Dates, venues and format revealed | OneFootball

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CAF has officially announced the venues, dates, and format for the upcoming play-offs of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African qualifiers.

In a letter sent to the federations, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the dates, venues, and format for the continental play-off tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Morocco, host nation of AFCON 2025, will stage the African play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.

CAF has notified all member associations that the semi-finals will take place on November 13, 2025, with the final scheduled for November 16, 2025. This four-team mini-tournament will bring together the four best runners-up from the nine qualification groups, determined after Matchday 10.

The FIFA rankings for October 2025, which will be released on October 23, will serve as the basis for the draw and the seeding. The highest-ranked team will face the fourth-ranked team in one semi-final, while the other semi-final will pit the second-ranked team against the third.

The winner of the Moroccan tournament will earn the right to compete in the intercontinental play-off in March 2026, where they will face teams from other confederations (Asia, South America, Oceania, or Concacaf) for a chance to secure Africa’s 10th and final qualification spot for the 2026 World Cup.