...By Joseph Benjamin for TDPel Media.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are eagerly awaiting the World Cup 2026 group stage draw, which is scheduled to take place on July 12.
The draw will determine the opponents Nigeria will face in the prestigious tournament.
Preceding the draw, the 45th CAF Ordinary General Assembly will be held in Cotonou, Benin Republic, as announced by CAF on Friday.
A Simplified Qualification Process:
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced a change in the qualification process for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Instead of the lengthy three-round qualification process, CAF will adopt a one-stage approach, significantly reducing the time it takes to determine African teams for the tournament.
Group Stage Format:
Under the new arrangement approved by the CAF Executive Committee in Algiers, the 54 Member Associations will be divided into nine groups, each comprising six teams.
Following a round-robin format, the top team from each group will secure automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup after Match Day 10.
Continental Play-offs and Final Qualification:
To determine the final African representative, a Continental play-off will be held between the second-placed teams from each of the nine groups.
The winner of this play-off will advance to the second and final play-off, where they will compete against six teams from other confederations.
From these matches, the top two teams will qualify, completing the total of 48 teams for the World Cup.
Qualification Schedule:
The qualification matches are set to commence with matchdays one and two scheduled between November 13 and 21 of this year.
Matchdays three and four are planned for June 2024.
The qualifiers will officially begin in November 2021, and the final matchday schedule is set for October 6-14.
Continental Play-off and Potential 10th Seat:
The Continental play-off, taking place between November 10 and 18, 2025, will determine the potential 10th African seat in the World Cup.
The location for the play-off is yet to be announced.
Conclusion:
Nigeria’s Super Eagles, along with other African teams, anticipate the World Cup 2026 group stage draw, which will be held in July.
With a simplified qualification process and the opportunity for African teams to secure their place in the tournament, the road to the World Cup promises exciting and competitive matches.
