Africa’s final World Cup play-offs kick off this month as Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria compete in Morocco for a spot at the 2026 tournament. The four teams qualified as the best second-placed finishers from Africa’s nine qualifying groups, with Nigeria sneaking in on goal difference.
Semi-final pairings were determined by FIFA rankings, pitting Nigeria against Gabon and Cameroon against DR Congo, with winners meeting in a Sunday final in Rabat.
The African victor will advance to a six-team intercontinental play-off against nations from Asia, Oceania, South America, and Concacaf. There, they will compete for one of the last two tickets to the expanded World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US.