Morocco has officially been confirmed as the host nation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff tournament, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday.
The North African country, renowned for its growing football influence and modern sporting infrastructure, will stage the mini-tournament that will determine which African nation advances to the intercontinental playoffs for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
According to CAF, the playoff competition will take place in November 2025, featuring the four best second-placed teams from the nine CAF qualifying groups after matchday 10. The semi-final fixtures will be held on November 13, with the final slated for November 16. Both matches are to be hosted in Morocco at venues yet to be confirmed.
“The Confederation of African Football is pleased to announce that Morocco will host the CAF World Cup Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” read an official CAF statement. “The event will determine Africa’s representative for the intercontinental playoff round scheduled for March 2026.”
The announcement underscores Morocco’s continued rise as a major football hub on the continent. Following the nation’s historic semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar—the best-ever performance by an African team—Morocco has hosted several major continental events, including the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, CAF club finals, and numerous international friendlies.
The playoff format will see the top-ranked second-placed team face the fourth-best, while the second and third-ranked nations will battle in the other semi-final. CAF confirmed that seeding for the draw will be based on the official FIFA rankings for October 2025, which are scheduled for release on October 23.
The winners of the semi-finals will meet three days later in the final, with the victor earning the right to represent Africa in the intercontinental playoffs in March 2026. The intercontinental round will pit the African representative against a team from one of the other confederations—Asia (AFC), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), or North and Central America (CONCACAF)—for one of the final qualifying slots for the expanded 48-team World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup, to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 nations for the first time in history, with Africa’s allocation increasing from five to nine direct slots. One additional spot could still be earned via the intercontinental playoffs, giving the continent a potential ten representatives.
CAF’s decision to award hosting rights to Morocco was widely praised by football observers, who cited the country’s recent track record of successfully organizing major competitions. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has invested heavily in stadium upgrades, training centers, and hospitality facilities, making the North African nation a frequent choice for high-profile fixtures.
Morocco’s state-of-the-art stadiums in Casablanca, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier are expected to be among the possible venues for the playoff tournament. The FRMF has yet to confirm the exact cities, but sources indicate that at least two stadiums will be used to accommodate both the semi-final and final rounds.
Football analysts have welcomed the announcement as a fair and strategic decision that ensures the playoffs will be held in a country with the infrastructure and organizational experience needed to deliver a successful event.
“This is another sign that Morocco has become Africa’s football capital,” said former Nigerian international Mutiu Adepoju. “The country continues to demonstrate excellence in organization, and this decision gives the playoff matches the prestige they deserve.”
As the CAF qualifying campaign enters its decisive stages, the announcement adds another layer of excitement for teams fighting for the playoff spots. Nations currently vying for second place will now know that a trip to Morocco could determine their fate in the race to the 2026 World Cup.
With less than a year to go before the decisive playoff fixtures, attention will now turn to the October FIFA rankings, which will shape the semifinal pairings. Whatever the lineup, one thing is certain: all roads to the final World Cup slot for Africa will lead to Morocco in November 2025.
