World Cup
Four Matches, Five Months, One Dream: Nigeria’s Grueling Route to the 2026 World Cup
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are still alive—but the Super Eagles must now navigate a four-match route through both the African and Intercontinental play-offs. The process will last five months.
After missing out on direct qualification from their 10-match group series, Nigeria will now feature in the CAF Play-off scheduled for 10–18 November 2025 in Morocco.
According to the projected draw, four teams—Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and DR Congo— will compete in a straight knockout format. Based on the current FIFA rankings, the Super Eagles will be designated Team A and will face Gabon in the semi-finals, while Cameroon meet DR Congo in the other fixture.
Winners of both matches will advance to the final to determine Africa’s representative for the Intercontinental Play-off. The CAF Play-off champion will have played two matches—semi-final and final—to book the continental ticket.
That winner will then join five other teams—one each from Asia (AFC), South America (CONMEBOL), Oceania (OFC), and two from North & Central America and the Caribbean (CONCACAF)—in the Intercontinental Play-off scheduled for March 23–31, 2026, in the United States.
Among the teams already confirmed are Bolivia (CONMEBOL’s seventh-placed side) and New Caledonia, runners-up in Oceania. The Asian, CONCACAF, and African representatives will be decided next month.
The six teams will be seeded according to the FIFA World Ranking, with the two highest-ranked earning byes to the final round. The remaining four will contest two semi-finals, and the winners will then face the seeded teams. The two victorious nations from those matches will claim the final World Cup slots.
By the current FIFA ranking, Nigeria (45), if qualified for the intercontinental play-off, stands a higher position than Bolivia (77) and New Caledonia (150) and could be one of the two to be seeded.
The two matches at the CAF play-off and good running at the December-January Africa Cup of Nations could substantially improve the Super Eagles’ ranking ahead of the intercontinental play-off in March next year.
For Nigeria, the qualification pathway is clear but steep:
- Win the CAF Play-off in Morocco (two matches: semi-final and final)
- Advance to the Intercontinental Play-off in March 2026
- Defeat one or two opponents from other confederations (depending on seeding)
- Secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States
Key Dates
- CAF Play-off: November 10–18, 2025 (Morocco)
- Intercontinental Play-off: March 23–31, 2026 (United States)
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Senegal secured a runaway 4-0 victory over neighbours Mauritania to finish top of their qualifying group and reach next year’s World Cup finals.
Senegal were quarter-finalists in 2002 and also competed at the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals.
-Reuters
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Cote d’Ivoire overcame Kenya 3-0 in their final qualifier on Tuesday to finish top of their group and secure a berth at next year’s World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S.
The Ivorians are reigning African champions and will be competing at a fourth World Cup but first since 2014.
-Reuters
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President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he could consider relocating 2026 World Cup matches scheduled for the Boston area, citing public safety concerns and criticizing Mayor Michelle Wu.
“We could take them away,” Trump said when asked about Boston’s readiness to host. “I love the people of Boston, and I know the games are sold out. But your mayor is not good.”
“She’s intelligent, but she’s radical left, and they’re taking over parts of Boston,” he said. “We could get them back in about two seconds. All she has to do is call us. We’ll go in and take them back, but she’s afraid to because she thinks it’s bad politically.”
Seven World Cup games are slated for Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, about 30 miles southwest of Boston, as part of the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. FIFA finalized the 16 host cities and match allocations in 2022.
Trump suggested he could appeal directly to FIFA president Gianni Infantino and get the games relocated.
“If somebody is doing a bad job, and if I feel there’s unsafe conditions, I would call Gianni — the head of FIFA who’s phenomenal — and I would say, ‘Let’s move into another location,’ and they would do that,” Trump said. “He wouldn’t love to do it, but he’d do it very easily.”
Tournament control ultimately rests with FIFA. Earlier this month, FIFA vice president Victor Montagliani reiterated the body’s authority over venue decisions: “It’s FIFA’s tournament, FIFA’s jurisdiction. FIFA makes those decisions.”
Trump’s remarks came during his White House appearance with Argentine President Javier Milei, days after Boston police reported multiple arrests tied to a late-night street gathering that turned violent. Wu’s office did not immediately comment.
World Cup organizers have touted significant economic impact for host markets, with high demand reported since ticket applications opened. Any late venue changes would entail extensive logistical and contractual hurdles, given that the tournament’s June 11 kickoff is eight months away.
The first match in Boston is scheduled for June 13, featuring teams from Group C on Day 3 of the tournament.
-Reuters
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