The Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved a new format for the World Cup 2026 African qualifiers.
The new format for the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers will involve all 54 member associations of CAF, who will be divided into nine groups, according to a statement released by CAF on Friday.
The format has been adapted to align with FIFA’s expanded World Cup format.
The winners of each group will automatically qualify for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
The four best runners-up from the groups will play in the CAF Play-Off Tournament, and the winner of that tournament will play in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
The official draw for the FIFA World Cup 2026 African qualifiers will take place on July 12, 2023, in Cotonou, Benin, the night before the 45th CAF Ordinary General Assembly.
AFCON 2023 finals draw date
The official draw for the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire 2023 will be conducted on October 12, 2023, CAF says.
The 34th edition of the AFCON 2023 will take place from January 13, 2024, until February 11, 2024.
The AFCON 2023 qualifiers are almost complete, and eight nations have already secured their place in the competition: Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Tunisia, and African champions Senegal.
This will be Cote d’Ivoire’s second time hosting the tournament, after Cameroon won the competition when it was held there in 1984. (Ahram Online)
