FIFA Confirms DR Congo for 2026 World Cup Play-Off, Ending Nigeria’s Hopes

Nigeria’s Super Eagles suffered a crushing blow on Wednesday as FIFA officially confirmed DR Congo’s participation in the upcoming inter-confederation play-off tournament for the 2026 World Cup, effectively ending Nigeria’s chance of qualification.

The decision marks the conclusion of a protracted legal battle by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which had lodged a formal protest following the CAF play-off final in November 2025. In that match, Nigeria lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo after a 1-1 draw. The NFF had argued that DR Congo fielded ineligible dual-national players, in violation of FIFA’s nationality-switch regulations.

However, the latest accreditation notice from FIFA lists DR Congo among the six teams competing in the play-off tournament in Mexico, leaving the Super Eagles out of contention.

“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 16 host cities,” FIFA said in a statement.

“All of the six teams have now been decided, with Bolivia, Congo DR, Iraq, Jamaica, New Caledonia, and Suriname confirmed as qualifiers.”

The play-off tournament is scheduled to begin on March 26, 2026, and Nigeria will not feature after its months-long effort to challenge DR Congo’s eligibility claims failed to overturn the result.

The Super Eagles’ absence from the tournament ends a campaign that had begun with high hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.