The intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup are just around the corner, and all eyes are on DR Congo, one of the top seeds and a strong contender for the tournament’s final spots.
The playoffs will take place in Mexico from March 23 to 31, 2026, with matches at Estadio BBVA in Monterrey and Estadio Akron in Guadalajara. Each game is a single-leg knockout, meaning only the winners will advance.
DR Congo earned its place after impressive victories over Cameroon (1-0) and Nigeria (4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw) in the African playoffs. As a top seed, they head straight to the final of their playoff path, needing just one win to book a return to the World Cup. This will be their second appearance, the first being in 1974 when the country competed as Zaire.
Iraq is the other top seed, advancing directly to their final after qualifying as one of Asia’s strongest teams. Like DR Congo, Iraq has a single World Cup appearance, dating back to 1986, where they exited in the group stage.
The other four teams—Jamaica and Suriname from CONCACAF, Bolivia from South America, and New Caledonia from Oceania—will have to fight through semifinals for a chance to face the top seeds. None of them has ever qualified for a men’s World Cup, making this a historic opportunity.
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