The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF) is the African section of the qualification tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sofascore tracks live football scores and World Cup Qual. CAF table, results, statistics and top scorers. AfricaSelect season in unique tournament header.
New Qualification Format
Due to nine CAF teams now directly qualifying instead of five, the CAF Executive Committee announced a new qualification format on 19 May 2023. Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams.
Qualification Stages
- First round (group stage): Nine groups of six teams played in a home-and-away round-robin tournament.
- Teams were drawn into nine groups of six teams to play home-and-away round robin matches from November 2023 to October 2025.
Draw Details
The draw was held on 13 July 2023 at 15:00 GMT (UTC±0) in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. All 54 FIFA-affiliated football associations from CAF entered qualification.
Key Stats and Figures
Here's a summary of key statistics from the World Cup Qual. CAF:
CAF WORLD CUP 2026 QUALIFIERS PLAYOFFS PREDICTIONS
Attendance
- The average attendance per game was 22542.
- The total attendance in World Cup Qualification, CAF 2022 season was 2862856.
Goals
- How many goals are scored on average in World Cup Qual. CAF in FIFA World Cup, Qualification CAF 2025?
- The average number of goals in World Cup Qual. CAF is 2.28.
Top Scorers
- The top scorers in the last season of World Cup Qual. CAF World Cup Qualification, CAF 2022 season were Préjuce Nakoulma, Mohamed Salah.
- Last season top scorers are: Préjuce Nakoulma, Mohamed Salah. They scored 5 goals.
There have been 640 goals scored in 256 matches, for an average of 2.5 goals per match (as of 14 October 2025).
Read also: FIFA Ranking: Nigeria's Performance
Important Dates
- When does the World Cup Qual. CAF start and when does it finish?
- The World Cup Qual. CAF usually starts in November and ends in November.
Play-offs
The four best group runners-up (Cameroon, DR Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria) advanced to play-offs to determine the sole CAF representative at the inter-confederation play-offs. The play-off winner will join Bolivia, New Caledonia, one team from AFC, and two from CONCACAF in the inter-confederation play-offs.
The teams will be ranked according to the FIFA Men's World Ranking, with the four lowest-ranked teams playing in two single-elimination matches.
Controversies and Suspensions
- The match between Malawi and Equatorial Guinea on 9 October was cancelled due to Equatorial Guinea players refusing to travel citing continual complaints over conditions and money.
- Suspension of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFOOT) from 6 February 2025 until further notice.
Read also: A Look at Cameroon's Qualifying History
Read also: Discover the story of the Ethiopian World Federation
