In a thrilling conclusion to the continental qualifiers for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup 2026, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Iraq have emerged as the representatives from Africa and Asia as top ranked teams for the high-stakes inter-confederation playoff tournament.
Set to take place in March 2026 across neutral venues in Mexico, this six-team mini-tournament will award the final two berths to the global showpiece.
Both nations punched above their weight in dramatic playoffs, keeping alive dreams of ending long World Cup droughts: 52 years for DR Congo (last appearance as Zaire in 1974) and 40 years for Iraq (their sole prior entry in 1986).
The Leopards of DR Congo and the Lions of Mesopotamia now know their full set of opponents in a bracket designed to reward higher FIFA rankings.
With the lineup complete, the two top-seeded teams (based on current world rankings) will receive byes straight to the finals of two separate pathways, while the other four compete in semifinals. The winners of each pathway’s final will secure automatic qualification.
The complete field consists of DR Congo (CAF, ranked around 70th), Iraq (AFC, around 55th), Bolivia (CONMEBOL, around 85th), New Caledonia (OFC, around 130th), Jamaica (CONCACAF, around 60th) and Suriname (CONCACAF, around 140th).
DR Congo and Iraq are likely to be among the top seeds alongside Jamaica, meaning they would skip the semifinals and face the winners of the lower-ranked clashes. The format guarantees no same-confederation matchups in the early rounds, with all games single-elimination on neutral Mexican soil.
DR Congo’s path was nothing short of cinematic. In the four-team CAF playoff held in Morocco, Sébastien Migné’s Leopards first beat Cameroon 1-0 thanks to a 90+3-minute header from captain Chancel Mbemba.
That set up a final against Nigeria, where Frank Onyeka’s early deflected strike was cancelled out by Meschack Elia’s 32nd-minute equaliser. After a goalless extra time, coach Migné brought on penalty specialist Timothy Fayulu in the 119th minute.
Fayulu saved two Nigerian kicks, and Mbemba buried the decisive fourth penalty for a 4-3 shootout win, sending DR Congo into the intercontinental playoffs for the first time in half a century and leaving Nigeria stunned and absent from another World Cup.
Iraq’s qualification was equally dramatic. After a 1-1 first-leg draw in Abu Dhabi, the return leg in Basra saw the UAE take the lead through Caio Lucas. Mohanad Ali equalised, but the match seemed headed for penalties until, in the 107th minute (17 minutes into added time), VAR awarded Iraq a penalty for handball.
Amir Al-Ammari calmly converted to spark wild celebrations and clinch a 3-2 aggregate victory, ending the UAE’s campaign and booking Iraq’s ticket to Mexico.
The official draw will take place in late November 2025, with matches scheduled for early March 2026 in iconic Mexican stadiums. For DR Congo and Iraq, success would mean not only a return to the World Cup after decades away but national redemption after years of struggle both on and off the pitch.
In a tournament built on inclusivity and expansion, the Leopards and the Lions of Mesopotamia now stand one short, intense campaign away from history.
The intercontinental playoff draw is scheduled to take place on Thursday, November 20, at 1:00 p.m. at FIFA headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.