Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen Morocco to host the African playoff matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, featuring 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history.
Africa’s 54 national teams have been divided into 9 groups, each containing 6 teams. The group winners will qualify directly for the 2026 World Cup.
As for the playoff matches, they will be contested by the four best runners-up across the groups. These teams will compete in a mini-tournament consisting of semifinals and a final.
The winner of this mini-tournament will advance to the intercontinental playoff, which includes teams from other confederations, to fight for a spot in the World Cup finals.
Several African teams have already secured their qualification, including Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria, while the battle for the remaining spots continues.
CAF has scheduled the semifinal matches for November 13, 2025, with the final to be played on November 16 of the same month
This decision reaffirms Morocco’s growing stature as a trusted hub for African football, already on set to host the African Cup of Nations 2025 (AFCON) as well as the FIFA World Cup 2030.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised Morocco’s growing role in global football, saying the country “has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to football development across Africa”.
