Which teams have qualified for the second round of the CAF FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifying?

The teams for the qualifiers for the second round of the 2026 African FIFA World Cup were decided on Friday after FIFA released its latest men’s team rankings.

Nigeria will take on Gabon next month and Cameroon will play Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals of the play-offs next month. The four countries all advanced to the play-offs as the top runners-up from the nine African groups.

CAF FIFA World Cup 2026 Second Round Qualifiers

SF 1 – Nigeria vs Gabon (November 13)

SF 2 – Cameroon vs DR Congo (November 13)

Final – Winner SF1 vs Winner SF2 (November 16)

Morocco will host the play-offs next month, but the locations have yet to be announced.

There is a possibility that Africa could get an extra place at next year’s finals, with the winners of next month’s play-offs progressing to an intercontinental play-off tournament in March, from which the final two World Cup places will be determined.

The group stage of the African qualifiers concluded on Tuesday, with all group winners automatically qualifying for next year’s tournament in Canada, Mexico and the US.

Published on October 17, 2025