Africa reveals 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying format

The 54 member nations of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will be divided into nine groups of six for the 2026 World Cup qualifying competition, the organisation said on Friday.

Each group winner secures a place at the first finals featuring 48 teams, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar involved 32 countries.

The four best group runners-up go into playoffs with the winners progressing to an inter-confederation tournament with two World Cup places up for grabs.

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A statement released after a CAF executive committee meeting in Algeria said the qualifying draw will be made in the Benin city of Cotonou on 12 July.

The first two of 10 matchdays are scheduled for 13-21 November this year, followed by two each from 3-11 June next year and 17-25 March, 1-9 September and 6-14 October in 2025.

10-18 November in 2025 has been set aside for the four-team playoffs with the winners joining two North and Central America countries and one each from Asia, Oceania and South America.

Morocco made history in Qatar by becoming the first World Cup semi-finalists from Africa. They lost 2-0 to France in the penultimate round and 2-1 to Croatia in a playoff for third place.

Meanwhile, CAF also announced that the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast will be made on 12 October.

Four qualifying rounds have been played with the remaining two set for 12-20 June and 4-12 September.

Apart from Ivory Coast, who are automatic entrants as hosts, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia have booked places, leaving 17 places to be filled.

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