Due to time, the African soccer ruling body is considering a harmonized calendar for the 2025 African Cup of Nations and 2026 World Cup.
Knowing that Africa will be represented by 9 +1 countries in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, CAF under Patrice Motsepe is already looking for a way to have the two (2) qualifiers at the same time.
According to the update, the qualifiers would concern the two competitions and the first of each group will automatically qualify for the World Cup while the second and third of each group will compete in AFCON 2025.
Algeria, South Africa, Morocco, and the joint candidacy of Nigeria and Benin have submitted their candidacies for the 2025 AFCON while Canada, Mexico, and the United States are the joints host for the 2026 World Cup.