Africa’s road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup has produced drama, delight and heartbreak, and as the dust settles on the group phase, nine nations have punched their tickets to North America while four more chase one last gleaming berth through a high-stakes play-off in Morocco.
Who’s through (automatic qualifiers):
A stellar blend of experience and emerging force will represent the continent at the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Ivory Coast and Senegal have all sealed the nine automatic CAF spots after finishing top of their respective qualifying groups.
The play-off contenders:
CAF’s criteria for determining the best four second-placed teams which excludes results against bottom-placed sides, has now produced the quartet that will battle for Africa’s final ticket to the World Cup.
Gabon, who finished second in Group F, lead the standings with 19 points and a goal difference of +6.
They are followed by DR Congo with 16 points and +5, while rivals Cameroon and Nigeria complete the list, both on 15 points but separated by goal difference +9 and +7 respectively.
That ranking leaves Burkina Faso and Niger narrowly out despite tying on points, while Uganda Cranes, who finished on 12 points after a 2-1 defeat to Algeria, miss out in eighth position.
The road ahead:
Gabon, DR Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria will now contest the CAF continental play-off in Morocco.
The semi-finals will be played on November 13, followed by the final on November 16, 2025. The winner will proceed to the inter-confederation play-off, where they’ll compete for Africa’s potential tenth slot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Africa’s four best second-placed teams:
- Gabon – 19 pts (GD +6)
- DR Congo – 16 pts (GD +5)
- Cameroon – 15 pts (GD +9)
- Nigeria – 15 pts (GD +7)
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