CAF World Cup Qualifiers 2026: Fixtures for Matchday 1
African Nations Vie for World Cup Berths
The African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will kick off on Wednesday, November 15, as nations across the continent begin their quest for a place at the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Matchday 1 Fixtures
Below are the fixtures for the matches to be played on Matchday 1:
- Equatorial Guinea vs. Namibia (Group H) - Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, 1400 local time
- Rwanda vs. Zimbabwe (Group C) - Butare, Rwanda, 1500 local time
The 54 African nations have been divided into nine groups of six, with the top teams from each group advancing to the second round.
Qualification Process
The African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup will consist of three rounds:
- First Round: The 54 teams will be divided into nine groups of six. The winners of each group will advance to the second round.
- Second Round: The 9 group winners will be paired off into three two-legged playoffs. The winners of the three playoffs will advance to the third round.
- Third Round: The three second-round winners will face off in a single-elimination tournament. The winner of the tournament will qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first to feature 48 teams, up from 32 in previous tournaments. Africa will be guaranteed nine places at the tournament, with an additional team potentially qualifying through the intercontinental playoffs.
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