Nigeria’s national football team, the Nigeria national football team, will not participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the world football governing body confirmed DR Congo national football team as Africa’s representative in the intercontinental play-off tournament.
The decision was communicated by FIFA in an official tournament notice circulated to media partners ahead of the final qualification stage.
Nigeria had hoped to revive its qualification chances following a formal protest submitted to FIFA.
The complaint alleged that DR Congo fielded ineligible players during their penalty shootout victory over the Super Eagles in the continental play-off final.
The protest created months of uncertainty over which team would advance to represent Africa in the intercontinental play-off tournament.
However, FIFA’s latest announcement appeared to have settled the dispute.
In the tournament notice, the governing body listed DR Congo among the six teams that would compete for the remaining two spots at the expanded 2026 World Cup.
“The FIFA World Cup 2026 Play-Off Tournament will see six teams fight it out for the final two places at the tournament, to be staged in Canada, Mexico and the United States across 16 host cities,” the statement noted.
The six countries confirmed for the play-off competition include Bolivia national football team, DR Congo national football team, Iraq national football team, Jamaica national football team, New Caledonia national football team and Suriname national football team.
According to FIFA, the decisive play-off matches will take place from March 26 to 31, 2026, in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Nigeria’s absence from the tournament marks a major setback for the three-time African champions.
The team had previously missed qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup held in Qatar.
If confirmed in the final standings, the development would mean that the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups for the first time since making their tournament debut in 1994.
