{"id":37198,"date":"2023-05-19T15:53:04","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T15:53:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/?p=37198"},"modified":"2023-05-19T15:53:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T15:53:04","slug":"check-out-the-african-qualification-format-for-2026-world-cup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/check-out-the-african-qualification-format-for-2026-world-cup\/","title":{"rendered":"Check out the African qualification format for 2026 World Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently held a meeting in Algiers on May 18, 2023, where important decisions were made regarding CAF competitions. One of the significant decisions discussed was the format for the qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/strong><br \/>\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><br \/>\nIt was decided that the qualifiers would consist of nine groups, with each group containing six teams. The top nine teams from each group would secure direct qualification for the FIFA World Cup. However, an additional opportunity was introduced to determine the tenth representative from Africa.<\/p>\n<p><strong>READ:\u00a0<a title=\"Antoine Semenyo sidelined after successful surgery\" href=\"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/antoine-semenyo-sidelined-after-successful-surgery\/\">Antoine Semenyo sidelined after successful surgery<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The four best second-placed teams from the groups would participate in a playoff. The winner of this playoff would face a team from the CONCACAF zone for a chance to secure the tenth spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<br \/>\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><br \/>\nThe qualification process was scheduled to take place from November 2023 to November 2025. The first and second matchdays were set to be played in November 2023, followed by the third and fourth matchdays in June 2024. From the fifth to the tenth matchday, matches would be held throughout the year 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the draw for the Africa Cup of Nations 2023 tournament was scheduled to take place on July 12, 2023, a day before the ordinary general meeting of CAF in Cotonou.<br \/>\n<script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display: block; text-align: center;\" data-ad-layout=\"in-article\" data-ad-format=\"fluid\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-7515973527815049\" data-ad-slot=\"5197133662\"><\/ins><br \/>\n<script>\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\n<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently held a meeting in Algiers on May 18, 2023, where important decisions were made regarding CAF competitions. One of the significant decisions discussed was the format for the qualifiers of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was decided that the qualifiers would consist of nine groups, with each<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":37200,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,8417],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-37198","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-african-football","8":"category-featured"},"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/3692f5c2289a4815be0b4b31013e6a0f.jpeg?fit=1024%2C586&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8jzHl-9FY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":44634,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/nine-african-countries-confirmed-for-2026-fifa-world-cup\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":0},"title":"Nine African countries confirmed for 2026 FIFA World Cup","author":"Raphael Bannerman-Quartey","date":"October 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Nine African countries have qualified automatically for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from the gruelling CAF qualification campaign. \u00a0 The nine countries that managed to secure qualification are : Morocco Tunisia Egypt Algeria Senegal Ivory Coast Ghana South Africa Cape Verde Cape Verde will make their debut in the World\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Featured&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Featured","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/featured\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Black-Stars-1-pics.jpeg?fit=1142%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":31259,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/breaking-ghana-to-face-nigeria-world-cup-qualifiers-final-round\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":1},"title":"Breaking: Ghana to face Nigeria in World Cup Qualifiers Final round","author":"Admin","date":"January 22, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"The Ghana Black Stars will face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the World Cup Qualifiers final round, Black Stars will beat rivals to make it to the World Cup. Ghana was placed in pot II of the draw due to their position on the FIFA ranking for November. The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-22-at-3.37.24-PM.jpeg?fit=1080%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-22-at-3.37.24-PM.jpeg?fit=1080%2C592&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-22-at-3.37.24-PM.jpeg?fit=1080%2C592&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-22-at-3.37.24-PM.jpeg?fit=1080%2C592&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/WhatsApp-Image-2022-01-22-at-3.37.24-PM.jpeg?fit=1080%2C592&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":30198,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/black-princesses-get-walk-over-following-mauritanias-withdrawal-from-fifa-wwc-qualifiers\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":2},"title":"Black Princesses get walk-over following Mauritania\u2019s withdrawal from FIFA WWC qualifiers","author":"Admin","date":"September 13, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Black Princesses have advanced to the third stage of the African U20 Women\u2019s World Cup qualification following Mauritania\u2019s withdrawal from the qualifiers. Ghana\u2019s U20 Women\u2019s team was scheduled to take Mauritania in the second stage\u00a0qualification match on September 25 with the return leg set for October 9. CAF has\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Prin-1024x683-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Prin-1024x683-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Prin-1024x683-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Prin-1024x683-1.jpeg?fit=1024%2C683&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":29902,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-approves-accra-and-cape-coast-stadiums-for-world-cup-qualifiers\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":3},"title":"CAF approves Accra and Cape Coast stadiums for World Cup qualifiers","author":"Clinton Eleto","date":"August 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has approved the Accra and Cape Coast stadiums for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Qualifiers. According to the continental governing body the decision was based on the assessment of an updated report submitted by the Ghana Football Association (GFA). The two stadiums\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Cape-Coast.jpg?fit=512%2C384&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16476,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/ghana-qualify-afcon-2019-caf-disqualifies-sierra-leone\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":4},"title":"Ghana qualify for AFCON 2019 after CAF disqualifies Sierra Leone","author":"Clinton Eleto","date":"December 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Ghana Black Stars and Kenya have qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after CAF disqualified Sierra Leone from the qualifiers on Monday. FIFA suspended Sierra Leone from world football over claims of government interference. The suspension comes after FIFA sent a letter to the country's Minister of Sports\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Ghana qualify for AFCON 2019 after CAF disqualifies Sierra Leone","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/afcon2019.jpg?fit=750%2C418&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/afcon2019.jpg?fit=750%2C418&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/afcon2019.jpg?fit=750%2C418&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/afcon2019.jpg?fit=750%2C418&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":25307,"url":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/caf-postpones-afcon-qualifiers-matches\/","url_meta":{"origin":37198,"position":5},"title":"CAF postpones AFCON qualifiers, other matches","author":"Clinton Eleto","date":"March 13, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"CAF postpones AFCON qualifiers, other matches The Emergency Committee of the Confederation of African Football has postponed this month\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers following growing concerns of COVID-19 and the latest declaration of the World Health Organization describing it as a pandemic. The following matches have been postponed until\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;African Football&quot;","block_context":{"text":"African Football","link":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/category\/african-football\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"CAF postpones AFCON qualifiers, other matches","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Caf-logo-sharp.jpg?fit=800%2C415&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Caf-logo-sharp.jpg?fit=800%2C415&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Caf-logo-sharp.jpg?fit=800%2C415&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Caf-logo-sharp.jpg?fit=800%2C415&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=37198"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37199,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/37198\/revisions\/37199"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37200"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=37198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=37198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saharafootball.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=37198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}