FIFA on Wednesday confirmed the final line-up for the inter confederation play off tournament, naming DR Congo as Africa’s representative and effectively ending Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an accreditation notice issued to journalists ahead of the competition, FIFA outlined the tournament format and listed the six participating nations, with DR Congo included as CAF’s flag bearer. The announcement leaves no room for Nigeria, whose Football Federation had challenged their defeat in the CAF play offs in November 2025.
The Nigeria Football Federation had filed a formal protest, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the decisive tie, which ended 1-1 before Nigeria lost on penalties. The appeal sought to overturn the result and secure the Super Eagles’ place in the inter confederation play offs, but FIFA’s latest communication indicates that the original result will stand.
In its statement, FIFA confirmed, “The FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament will see six teams fight it out for the final two places at the FIFA World Cup 2026™, to be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States across sixteen host cities.” The governing body added that all six teams have now been decided, naming Bolivia, DR Congo, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname as qualifiers.
The play offs are scheduled to begin on Thursday March 26, with New Caledonia taking on Jamaica and Bolivia facing Suriname. FIFA’s confirmation finalizes the tournament line-up and leaves Nigeria supporters disappointed as the Super Eagles will not participate in the final qualification stage.
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