2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)

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2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)
Tournament details
Dates15 November 2023 – 18 November 2025
Teams53 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played103
Goals scored243 (2.36 per match)
Attendance835,446 (8,111 per match)
Top scorer(s) Flag of Egypt.svg Mohamed Salah
Flag of Egypt.svg Trézéguet
(5 goals each)
← 2022
2030 →
All statistics correct as of 11 June 2024.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) is the African section of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico. A total of nine slots in the final tournament and one inter-confederation play-off slot are reserved for CAF teams. [1]

Contents

Format

Due to nine CAF teams now directly qualifying instead of five, the CAF Executive Committee announced a new qualification format on 19 May 2023. Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams. The winner of each group will directly qualify to the World Cup, while the four best group runners-up will participate in play-offs to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs. [2] [3]

Schedule

2026 FIFA World Cup qualification
RoundMatchdayDates
First round Matchday 115–18 November 2023
Matchday 219–21 November 2023
Matchday 35–8 June 2024
Matchday 49–11 June 2024
Matchday 517–25 March 2025
Matchday 6
Matchday 71–9 September 2025
Matchday 8
Matchday 96–14 October 2025
Matchday 10
Second round Semi-finals10–18 November 2025
Final

First round

Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams and will play home-and-away round robin matches from November 2023 to October 2025. The winners of each group will qualify directly to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and the four best group runners-up will advance to a play-off to determine which team will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Draw

The draw was held on 13 July 2023 at 15:00 GMT (UTC±0) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. [4] [5] All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification, however Eritrea withdrew before matches began. [6] [7]

The draw pots were announced on 30 June (numbers in parentheses indicate FIFA Men's World Ranking at the time of the draw): [8] [9]

CAF qualification first round draw pots
Pot 1Pot 2Pot 3
Pot 4Pot 5Pot 6

Groups

Group A

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Egypt.svg Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg Flag of Burkina Faso.svg Flag of Sierra Leone.svg Flag of Ethiopia.svg Flag of Djibouti.svg
1Flag of Egypt.svg  Egypt 4310112+910 2026 FIFA World Cup — Oct 2–1 Mar Sep 6–0
2Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 413032+16Possible second round 1–1 — Mar Sep 0–0 Sep
3Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 412175+25 Sep 1–1 — 2–2 Oct Mar
4Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  Sierra Leone 412145−15 0–2 Mar Oct — Sep 2–1
5Flag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia 403114−33 Mar Oct 0–3 0–0 — Mar
6Flag of Djibouti.svg  Djibouti 4013210−81 Oct 0–1 Sep Oct 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group B

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Sudan.svg Flag of Senegal.svg Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg Flag of Togo (3-2).svg Flag of South Sudan.svg Flag of Mauritania.svg
1Flag of Sudan.svg  Sudan 431071+610 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mar 1–0 1–1 Mar Oct
2Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 422061+58Possible second round Sep — 1–1 Mar 4–0 Oct
3Flag of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.svg  DR Congo 421142+27 Oct Sep — 1–0 Mar 2–0
4Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 403123−13 Sep 0–0 Oct — 1–1 Mar
5Flag of South Sudan.svg  South Sudan 402218−72 0–3 Oct Sep Oct — 0–0
6Flag of Mauritania.svg  Mauritania 401305−51 0–2 0–1 Mar Sep Sep —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group C

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Rwanda.svg Flag of South Africa.svg Flag of Benin.svg Flag of Lesotho.svg Flag of Nigeria.svg Flag of Zimbabwe.svg
1Flag of Rwanda.svg  Rwanda 421131+27 2026 FIFA World Cup — 2–0 Oct Mar Mar 0–0
2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 421165+17Possible second round Oct — 2–1 Mar Sep 3–1
3Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 421143+17 1–0 Mar — Sep 2–1 Sep
4Flag of Lesotho.svg  Lesotho 412132+15 0–1 Sep 0–0 — Oct Oct
5Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 403145−13 Sep 1–1 Oct 1–1 — Mar
6Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 402226−42 Sep Oct Mar 0–2 1–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group D

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Cameroon.svg Flag of Libya.svg Flag of Cape Verde.svg Flag of Angola.svg Flag of Mauritius.svg Flag of Eswatini.svg
1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 422093+68 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mar 4–1 Oct 3–0 Sep
2Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 421143+17Possible second round 1–1 — Oct Mar 2–1 Sep
3Flag of Cape Verde.svg  Cape Verde 42114407 Sep 1–0 — 0–0 Mar Oct
4Flag of Angola.svg  Angola 413021+16 1–1 Sep Mar — Sep 1–0
5Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 411236−34 Oct Oct Sep 0–0 — 2–1
6Flag of Eswatini.svg  Eswatini 400416−50 Mar 0–1 0–2 Oct Mar —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group E

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Morocco.svg Flag of Niger.svg Flag of Tanzania.svg Flag of Zambia.svg Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg Flag of Eritrea.svg
1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3300101+99 2026 FIFA World Cup — Sep Mar 2–1 Oct Canc.
2Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 320152+36Possible second round Mar — 0–1 2–1 Oct Canc.
3Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania 32012206 0–2 Sep — Oct Mar Canc.
4Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 410367−13 Sep Oct 0–1 — 4–2 Canc.
5Flag of the Republic of the Congo.svg  Congo 3003213−110 0–6 0–3 [a] Sep Mar — Canc.
6Flag of Eritrea.svg  Eritrea [b] 00000000Withdrew Canc. Canc. Canc. Canc. Canc. —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. ↑ Niger were awarded a 3–0 victory by forfeit after Congo refused to travel to DR Congo for the match, after their regular stadium was deemed to not meet hosting requirements. [10]
  2. ↑ Eritrea withdrew before the first matches were played. [6]

Group F

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg Flag of Gabon.svg Flag of Burundi.svg Flag of Kenya.svg Flag of The Gambia.svg Flag of Seychelles.svg
1Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 4310120+1210 2026 FIFA World Cup — 1–0 Sep Oct Mar 9–0
2Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 430175+29Possible second round Sep — Oct 2–1 3–2 Mar
3Flag of Burundi.svg  Burundi 421186+27 Mar 1–2 — Oct 3–2 Mar
4Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 412173+45 0–0 Mar 1–1 — Sep Sep
5Flag of The Gambia.svg  Gambia 41039903 0–2 Oct Sep Mar — 5–1
6Flag of Seychelles.svg  Seychelles 4004222−200 Oct Sep 1–3 0–5 Oct —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Group G

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Algeria.svg Flag of Mozambique.svg Flag of Botswana.svg Flag of Guinea.svg Flag of Uganda.svg Flag of Somalia.svg
1Flag of Algeria.svg  Algeria 430184+49 2026 FIFA World Cup — Mar Sep 1–2 Oct 3–1
2Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 430165+19Possible second round 0–2 — Sep Oct Mar 2–1
3Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 420265+16 Mar 2–3 — 1–0 Oct Mar
4Flag of Guinea.svg  Guinea 42024406 [a] Sep 0–1 Oct — 2–1 Mar
5Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda 42024406 [a] 1–2 Sep 1–0 Mar — Sep
6Flag of Somalia.svg  Somalia 400439−60 Oct Oct 1–3 Sep 0–1 —
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Guinea 3, Uganda 0.

Group H

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of Tunisia.svg Flag of Namibia.svg Flag of Liberia.svg Flag of Malawi.svg Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg
1Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia 431060+610 2026 FIFA World Cup — Oct Sep Mar 1–0 4–0
2Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 422061+58Possible second round 0–0 — 1–1 Sep Mar Sep
3Flag of Liberia.svg  Liberia 421152+37 Mar Oct — 0–1 3–0 [a] Mar
4Flag of Malawi.svg  Malawi 420243+16 0–1 Mar Sep — Oct 3–1
5Flag of Equatorial Guinea.svg  Equatorial Guinea 410317−63 Sep 0–3 [a] Oct 1–0 — Mar
6Flag of Sao Tome and Principe.svg  São Tomé and Príncipe 4004110−90 Oct 0–2 0–1 Oct Sep —
Updated to match(es) played on 10 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Equatorial Guinea forfeited two matches for fielding an ineligible player, Emilio Nsue. [11] The original results were Equatorial Guinea 1–0 Namibia and Liberia 0–1 Equatorial Guinea.

Group I

PosTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification Flag of the Comoros.svg Flag of Ghana.svg Flag of Madagascar.svg Flag of Mali.svg Flag of the Central African Republic.svg Flag of Chad.svg
1Flag of the Comoros.svg  Comoros 430184+49 2026 FIFA World Cup — 1–0 Oct Mar 4–2 Mar
2Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 430175+29Possible second round Oct — 1–0 Sep 4–3 Mar
3Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 421152+37 2–1 Mar — 0–0 Sep Sep
4Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 412154+15 Sep 1–2 Oct — 1–1 3–1
5Flag of the Central African Republic.svg  Central African Republic 411279−24 Sep Oct Mar Mar — 1–0
6Flag of Chad.svg  Chad 400419−80 0–2 Sep 0–3 Oct Oct —
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers

Ranking of runners-up

Neither CAF nor FIFA have made an official announcement on how Eritrea's withdrawal will affect the rankings of the group runners-up.

PosGrpTeam
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1 F Flag of Gabon.svg  Gabon 430175+29 Second round
2 I Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 430175+29
3 G Flag of Mozambique.svg  Mozambique 430165+19
4 H Flag of Namibia.svg  Namibia 422061+58
5 B Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 422061+58
6 C Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 421165+17
7 D Flag of Libya.svg  Libya 421143+17
8 E Flag of Niger.svg  Niger 320152+36
9 A Flag of Guinea-Bissau.svg  Guinea-Bissau 413032+16
Updated to match(es) played on 11 June 2024. Source: FIFA

Second round

The four best group runners-up will be drawn into play-offs to determine the sole CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs. A total of three matches will be played.

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
November 2025 (2025-11)
 
 
 
 
November 2025 (2025-11)
 
 
 
 
 
November 2025 (2025-11)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Semi-finals

v
v

Final

v

Inter-confederation play-offs

The play-off winner will join one team each from AFC, CONMEBOL and OFC and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs. The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches. The winners will meet the two highest-ranked teams in another set of single-elimination matches, with the winners of these matches qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. [12]

Top goalscorers

There have been 243 goals scored in 103 matches, for an average of 2.36 goals per match (as of 11 June 2024).

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

Below are full goalscorer lists for each group:

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References

  1. ↑ "Current allocation of FIFA World Cup confederation slots maintained". FIFA. 30 May 2015. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
  2. ↑ "CAF Executive Committee approves FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers calendar and announces TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d'Ivoire 2023 Final Draw date". cafonline. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  3. ↑ "CAF reveals new format for 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers". cafonline. CAF. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Olsson, Andrew (4 July 2023). "Learn all about 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying in the CAF region and the seeds". Pan-Africa Football. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
  5. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026 African Qualifiers Official Draw on 13 July". cafonline. CAF. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Eritrea Pull Out Of 2026 World Cup Qualifier". Dehai News. Dehai News. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Statement on FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary competition". CAF. 10 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Inyang, Ifreke (30 June 2023). "FIFA puts Super Eagles in Pot 1 as race to 2026 World Cup begins". dailypost.ng. Daily Post. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  9. ↑ "FIFA World Cup 2026: African preliminary qualifiers draw officially conducted". CAF. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "FIFA awards win to Niger after Congo no-show in World Cup qualifier". The Straits Times. 26 June 2024. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  11. ↑ Dunbar, Graham (24 May 2024). "Equatorial Guinea must default wins in World Cup qualifying over same ineligible player as in 2013". apnews.com. Associated Press. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "Bureau of the Council recommends slot allocation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup". FIFA. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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