CAF Unveils Calendar For 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

CAF Unveils Calendar For 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

Sampson Adedeji

With 3 years to the 2026 FIFA World Cup that will be co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States, the African Soccer ruling body has unveiled its calendar for the continent qualifiers, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The group draw for the tournament qualifiers was held earlier in the year with 52 African teams placing in 9 groups.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) published the program for this campaign on Tuesday. 

Matchdays 1 and 2 will be played between November 7 and 21, 2023, Matchdays 3 and 4 will take place in June 2024, days 5 and 6 will take place in March 2025, Matchdays 7 and 8 will take place in September 2025, and Matchdays 9 and 10 in October 2025. 

 Africa will have 9 direct qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, indeed, the first of the nine qualifying groups will go directly to the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The 10th representative could also qualify via the playoffs. The top 4 2nd-placed teams will play off. The winner will go through to the play-offs.