FIFA ends Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup hopes, confirms DR Congo for play-off

The FIFA has ended the Nigeria national football team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after confirming the final line-up for this month’s inter-confederation play-off tournament.

The world football governing body has selected the DR Congo national football team as Africa’s representative.

The decision was contained in an accreditation notice circulated to the media on Wednesday, March 4, which outlined the tournament format and listed the six participating nations.

DR Congo’s inclusion effectively rules out Nigeria, whose football federation had challenged the outcome of their defeat in the Confederation of African Football (CAF) play-offs in November 2025.

The Nigeria Football Federation had lodged a formal protest, alleging that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during the decisive tie, which ended 1–1 before Nigeria lost on penalties.