FIFA has confirmed the final list of teams for the inter-confederation play-off tournament, naming Democratic Republic of the Congo as Africa’s representative — a decision that effectively ends Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
In an accreditation notice released ahead of the tournament, FIFA outlined the competition format and confirmed the six participating countries. DR Congo’s inclusion leaves no opening for Nigeria, whose football authorities had contested the outcome of their CAF play-off defeat in November 2025.
The Nigeria Football Federation had filed a formal protest, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players in the decisive tie. That match ended 1–1 before going to penalties, where Nigeria lost. The federation had hoped the appeal would overturn the result and hand the Super Eagles a place in the inter-confederation play-offs.
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However, FIFA’s latest confirmation shuts the door on that possibility.
In its statement, the governing body announced that six teams will compete for the final two spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across 16 cities in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The six confirmed nations are Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia and Suriname.
The play-off tournament is scheduled to begin on March 26, with the two successful teams securing the final tickets to the expanded 2026 World Cup.
