All You Should Know About World Cup 2026 Inter-Continental Play-off Tournament

By Amaechi Agbo

The Confederation of African Football (“CAF”) and Hosts Morocco have confirmed the match venues for the African Qualifiers of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Inter-Continental Play-off tournament.
The mini-tournament, to be staged between 13-16 November 2025 in Rabat, Morocco will feature: Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon and Nigeria.
The semi-finals will be played on Thursday, 13 November at El Barid Stadium and Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex. A draw will be held on Thursday, 30 October 2025 to determine the venue for each match.
The opening match will feature Nigeria against Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
The second semi-final will be between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT)
The Final will be played on Sunday, 16 November 2025 at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT)
The winner will advance to the FIFA Play-Off Inter-Continental Tournament in March 2026 for a chance to secure Africa’s 10th and final place at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
Africa’s final ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be decided in Rabat next month in a high-stakes, winner-takes-all mini-tournament. Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon—each the best runners-up from CAF qualifying—will battle for the continent’s possible 10th and last World Cup pathway.
The African play-offs run from Thursday 13 November to Sunday 16 November 2025, with both semi-finals and the final staged in Morocco’s capital.
CAF has confirmed kick-off times, venues and match order, setting the stage for two blockbuster semi-finals on the opening night.
The opener pits Nigeria against Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT), followed by Cameroon versus DR Congo at 20:00 local (19:00 GMT).
The champion will advance to March 2026’s FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament, where one more win secures a berth at World Cup 26 in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

How the four teams advanced
The quartet earned entry as the best runners-up from the CAF group phase.
Seeding was based on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking (17 October 2025):
Team 1 – Nigeria (41) vs Team 4 – Gabon (77)
Team 2 – Cameroon (54) vs Team 3 – DR Congo (60)
Nigeria snatched second in Group C with a decisive final-day win; Cameroon secured second in Group D after a tense draw; DR Congo finished second in Group B behind Senegal; Gabon trailed directly-qualified Côte d’Ivoire in their section.
What’s at stake
The play-off winner moves on to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off Tournament in March 2026.
Win there, and they join Africa’s nine direct qualifiers at FIFA World Cup 2026—completing the continent’s contingent.
Storylines to watch
Heavyweights vs dark horses: Nigeria and Cameroon arrive as traditional powerhouses, while DR Congo’s tournament pragmatism and Gabon’s experienced core make both dangerous in one-off ties.
Fine margins: With no two-leg safety net, set-pieces, discipline and bench impact could decide tight contests under knockout pressure.
Morocco factor: Neutral but familiar North African conditions, evening kick-offs and quick turnaround (72 hours) reward depth and recovery planning.
Key dates recap
30 October 2025: Venue assignment draw for the two semi-finals
13 November 2025: Semi-finals in Rabat (17:00 & 20:00)
16 November 2025: Final in Rabat (20:00)