The race to secure one of Africa’s four coveted spots in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup is officially underway.
On Thursday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the highly anticipated draw for the qualifiers at its headquarters in Cairo.
The tournament, set to take place in Poland in August 2026, will feature 24 nations, with Africa aiming to have a strong representation in the global competition.
Out of 38 African teams, only four will make the cut, and the road to Poland will be filled with fierce competition through a series of knockout rounds.
Qualifiers Breakdown:
First Round: The 12 lowest-ranked teams, based on previous U-20 Women’s World Cup performances, will compete in the opening round. Six winners will move on to join the top 26 ranked teams, who are automatically exempt from this stage.
Second Round: The six victorious teams from the first round will battle it out with the 26 exempted teams, forming a group of 32. Only 16 teams will advance to the third round.
Third Round: The remaining 16 teams will go head-to-head in knockout fixtures, with only 8 teams progressing to the fourth and final round.
Fourth Round: The final eight teams will fight for the ultimate prize, with the four winners earning a prestigious spot in the 2026 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Poland.
Nigeria’s U-20 Women Already In
As one of Africa’s top-ranked teams, Nigeria’s U-20 team was automatically exempted from the first round of qualifiers, thanks to its strong performance in previous U-20 Women’s World Cup campaigns.
Their qualification will mark the eighth consecutive appearance for Nigeria at the U-20 Women’s World Cup, solidifying the team’s dominance in African women’s football.
The qualifiers will play out for the four African spots, to represent and contend at the global competition in Poland.
Fixtures Highlights:
First Round: Matches will take place in early 2025, with home-and-away fixtures.
Second Round: The battle intensifies in late 2025, as the field narrows.
Third Round: By mid-2026, only the top 16 teams will remain in the competition.
Final Round: The road to Poland will culminate in dramatic knockout ties, with the four victorious teams sealing their place in the global event.
Attention now shifts to the find out the African nations who will clinch the four spots, set to unfold in the coming months.
