2026 FIFA World Cup: Bolivia Qualifies For Playoff; Awaits CAF, Other Confederations Opponents

 2026 FIFA World Cup: Bolivia Qualifies For Playoff; Awaits CAF, Other Confederations Opponents 

By Niyi Busari 

Bolivia has officially secured a place in the intercontinental playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after finishing seventh in the CONMEBOL qualification standings, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

The South American nation garnered 20 points from 18 matches, earning the sole playoff berth allocated to the region.

Bolivia will now face an opponent from the African and other four Confederations. 

However, the African representative will be determined through a mini-playoff involving the four best second-placed teams from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) qualifiers.

As things currently stand, Gabon leads the list of potential candidates with 18 points, followed closely by Madagascar and DR Congo on 16 points each. Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Namibia, and Uganda all sit on 15 points, while Benin (14 points) and Nigeria (11 points) trail behind. Two rounds of matches remain in the African qualifiers, meaning the final composition of the CAF mini-playoff is still undecided.

If the playoff positions were based on the current standings, Gabon, Madagascar, and DR Congo would likely qualify, with the final spot up for grabs between Cameroon, Namibia, and Uganda. 

CAF Mini-Tournament in November 2025

The African qualification pathway includes a four-team playoff in November 2025, where two semifinals and a final will determine the continent’s representative for the intercontinental playoff round.

Intercontinental Playoff Format

The intercontinental playoffs will feature six nations—one each from Africa, Asia, Oceania, and South America, along with two from CONCACAF. The matches are scheduled for March 2026 and will serve as a test event hosted in one of the 2026 World Cup host countries (Canada, Mexico, or the United States).

Participating teams:

Africa: Winner of CAF runners-up playoff

Asia: Fifth-placed team from AFC qualifiers

Oceania: Winner of OFC qualifiers (e.g., New Caledonia or similar)

South America: Bolivia

CONCACAF: Two teams

The two highest-ranked teams in the FIFA World Rankings at the time will be seeded directly into the final round. The remaining four teams will play single-leg semifinals, with the winners advancing to face the seeded teams. The two final winners will secure the last two spots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.