2026 World Cup: CAF confirms Morocco as host for African playoffs

The Confederation of African Football has formally announced the venues, dates, and format for the African playoff tournament that will determine the continent’s final qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, setting up a high-stakes showdown in November 2025.

In a circular sent to all member associations on Monday, CAF confirmed that Morocco is already set to host the upcoming AFCON 2025 and will also serve as the venue for the decisive four-team playoff, which will decide Africa’s representative for the intercontinental play-off round.

According to the schedule, the semi-final matches of the four-team mini-tournament will take place on November 13, 2025, while the final will be played on November 16, 2025.

The CAF playoff competition will feature the four best runners-up from the nine qualifying groups, determined after Match Day 10 of the qualifiers.

CAF outlined that in the event of a draw, matches will proceed to extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts. Teams will be allowed five substitutions, with a sixth permitted during extra time.

The October 2025 FIFA World Rankings, set to be published on October 23, will determine the draw and seeding for the play-offs.

The highest-ranked team will face the fourth-ranked in one semi-final, while the second and third ranked sides will meet in the other.

The winner of the Moroccan play-off tournament will advance to the intercontinental play-off scheduled for March 2026, where they will compete against teams from Asia, South America, Oceania, and Concacaf for a chance to claim Africa’s 10th and final slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

CAF boss Patrice Motsepe said he is “absolutely confident” the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead in Morocco, despite protests by young Moroccans who took to the streets for a ninth straight night of protests, calling for an end to corruption and a change of government.

Young Moroccans then took to the streets for a ninth straight night of protests, calling for an end to corruption and a change of government.

The protesters have demanded reforms to social services, especially health and education, and voiced anger over social inequality.

Morocco is scheduled to stage the Cup of Nations from December 21 to January 18 at nine venues, with 24 national teams competing in the premier African football competition.