FIFA confirmed Rabat as host of a six-team preliminary play-off phase, with two teams progressing to the final play-off stage in February 2027.
Where and when
The preliminary tournament is scheduled for 28 November to 5 December 2026 at the Mohammed VI Football Complex. FIFA announced the host details on 20 October, alongside the published match schedule.
The six participants
Chinese Taipei, Ecuador, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, South Africa and Uzbekistan will contest nine matches. Each side plays three games, and the teams finishing first and second overall advance to the final phase of the play-off competition. Progression from Rabat is not itself a World Cup place.
Opening fixtures and the next step
The first matchday pairs Uzbekistan with Papua New Guinea, Chinese Taipei with South Africa, and Ghana with Ecuador. Supporters should use FIFA’s official schedule for individual kick-off times. The final play-off phase follows in February 2027.
Correction / update (2026-10-20): The previous illustrative archive photograph was removed because it did not directly depict this news. A default illustration is used after a search found no suitable photograph with verified reuse permission. The reported facts are unchanged.
Correction / update (2026-10-20): The default illustration has been replaced with an original infographic specific to this report. The caption identifies its creator and links to the source of its data; it is not an official organiser graphic or an event photograph.
Correction / update (2026-10-21): The editorial infographic has been replaced with a real archive photograph of a named participating national team. The caption gives its original date, context, author, source and licence; it is not a photograph of the upcoming event. The reporting text is unchanged.
Sources & further reading
Source information checked on 20 October 2026. This is an independent report; follow the organiser for subsequent updates.