AFCON 2025
As the final qualification windows wrap up for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the intercontinental playoffs will decide the last two tickets to the tournament.
Here’s what to know and who is already lining up for the fight.
1. Six Teams, Two World Cup Places
Only two nations will qualify through the intercontinental route, but six teams will take part. Each confederation contributes one team, with CONCACAF receiving two slots because North America is hosting the tournament.
So far, the teams either already confirmed or locked into playoff paths are:
* South America (CONMEBOL): Bolivia are guaranteed a spot after missing automatic qualification.
* Oceania (OFC): New Caledonia will represent the region after winning the OFC playoff.
* Asia (AFC): The spot goes to the winner of the two-leg tie between Iraq and United Arab Emirates in November 2025.
* Africa (CAF): One team will advance after a four-nation playoff featuring Cameroon, Nigeria, DR Congo, and Gabon.
* CONCACAF (two spots): Two teams will qualify from the remaining North/Central America playoff standings, with nations like Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, and Honduras currently in contention.
2. Hosted in North America, Not Home and Away
The playoff will not be played over two legs. All matches will be staged in North America, likely in Mexico, in March 2026. It will operate as a mini knockout tournament.
* FIFA rankings determine seeding.
* The two highest-ranked teams will skip the opening round and go straight to a final playoff tie.
* The other four teams will face off in single-leg semifinals to earn the right to meet the seeded nations.
This structure gives higher-ranked teams, such as Bolivia or the AFC representative, a competitive advantage.
3. One Match Determines Everything
Each game is winner-takes-all over 90 minutes. If it ends level, extra time and then penalties decide it. There is no aggregate scoring, no return leg, and no second chance.
That makes the route risky for favourites and hopeful for outsiders. An African heavyweight like Nigeria or Cameroon could face sudden elimination, while a team like New Caledonia or a lower-ranked CONCACAF nation could pull off an upset.
With automatic qualification nearly complete across the regions, attention is shifting to this final pathway. For six nations, it will be the last chance to reach the 2026 World Cup, and only two will succeed.
