Rabat, October 13, 2025 – The Europe Today: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that Morocco will host the African playoff matches for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking another major milestone in the country’s growing prominence as a hub for international football.
The 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will feature 48 teams for the first time in the tournament’s history. Africa’s 54 national teams have been divided into nine groups of six, with each group winner qualifying directly for the finals.
The playoff stage will see the four best runners-up from the nine groups compete in a mini-tournament comprising semifinals and a final. The winner of this tournament will earn a place in the intercontinental playoff, where teams from other confederations will vie for a final spot in the World Cup.
CAF has scheduled the playoff semifinals for November 13, 2025, followed by the final on November 16, 2025.
Several African teams — including Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia, and Algeria — have already secured qualification, while the competition for the remaining spots continues.
In announcing the decision, CAF President Patrice Motsepe commended Morocco’s continued leadership in African and global football, noting its strong infrastructure, organizational capacity, and consistent commitment to the sport’s development across the continent.
“Morocco has demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to football development across Africa,” Motsepe said.
This latest decision further cements Morocco’s reputation as a premier sporting destination. The North African nation is already preparing to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and will be a co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, alongside Spain and Portugal.
With this new responsibility, Morocco continues to showcase its readiness and capability to organize world-class football events that strengthen Africa’s presence on the global stage.
