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COngo exited Nigeria to extend their hopes for World Cup finals 2026
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Sports Desk
The FIFA World Cup qualification for the 2026 edition will, for the first time, see a different format of qualification than has been before to the final global event.
It should be remembered that next year's edition will, for the first time, have an increased number of teams, from the traditional 32 to 48 teams. It should also be noted that this coming edition of the world's most prestigious football event will be hosted in three countries: Mexico, Canada and the United States of America (USA).
So now, going to the qualification format, the extension of the number of teams to 48 meant affiliated associations, which are by continental naming, were added slots and hence the new qualification format.
The allocation of these slots by FIFA came in a two-fold format: automatic slots and slots to be won through a play-off. In this regard, the six member confederations—i.e. Confederation of African Football (CAF), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)—were increased slots but differently.
And this allocation for the 48-team slots was confirmed as: Africa 9 slots (up from 5), Asia 8 (up from 4 or 5), Europe 16 (up from 13), North, Central America and Caribbean 6 (up from 3 or 4), Oceania 1 (from 0 or 1) and South America 6 (up from 4 or 5).
Now, these make 46 of the 48 teams to play at the tournament, but the two remaining slots will be filled by the two successful teams that will play at the intercontinental play-offs in March next year.
Who will make the Intercontinental play-offs?
