CAF Confirms World Cup 2026 Playoff Fixtures, Venue, Time; Nigeria, Others Get Opponents
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), in partnership with hosts Morocco, has officially announced the match venues and schedule for the African qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Intercontinental Playoff tournament.
The high-stakes mini-tournament will take place from 13 to 16 November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco, featuring four African powerhouses: Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
According to CAF, the semi-finals will be played on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at El Barid Stadium and the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex.
A draw scheduled for 30 October 2025 will determine which fixture is assigned to each venue.
The opening semi-final will see Nigeria’s Super Eagles take on Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
This will be followed by the second semi-final between Cameroon and DR Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
➡️African Qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Inter-Continental Play-off tournament Venues, dates and Kick-off times Confirmed.
The mini-tournament, to be staged between 13-16 November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco will feature: 🇨🇲🇳🇬🇨🇩🇬🇦
🔗 https://t.co/RpYTfNadlt#WCQ2026 pic.twitter.com/DfIPH0Zrve
— CAF Media (@CAF_Media) October 29, 2025
The tournament’s final is slated for Sunday, 16 November 2025, at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
Confirmed Fixtures: CAF 2026 Playoff
- Match 1: Nigeria vs Gabon — 17:00
- Match 2: Cameroon vs DR Congo — 20:00
The overall winner will advance to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-off in March 2026, where they will compete for Africa’s 10th and final slot at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The tournament represents the last hurdle for the participating nations as they seek to join Africa’s already-qualified contingent on football’s biggest stage.