The Confederation of African Football CAF has officially confirmed a set of five key regulations that will guide the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup African Playoffs a decisive phase where the continents best will battle for a place on footballs biggest stage.
The playoffs, which will determine Africas final representatives for the expanded 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, are expected to deliver high-stakes drama and CAF is keen to ensure that all matches are governed by clear and uniform rules.
Among the measures highlighted, extra time will be introduced if teams are level after the regular 90 minutes. Should parity persist, the encounter will move to a penalty shootout, leaving no room for ambiguity in determining the winner.
CAF has also confirmed that teams will be permitted five substitutions during regular play, with a sixth change allowed in extra time a decision aimed at balancing competition intensity with player welfare, given the demanding nature of the fixtures.
Another crucial update is the guaranteed use of Video Assistant Referee VAR technology across all matches. VAR will be operational to oversee critical in-game decisions, ensuring fairness and accuracy in situations involving goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity.
The upcoming playoffs will see the nine group winners from the CAF qualifiers advance to this decisive round, with one team potentially heading to an intercontinental playoff. For many, these rules represent not just structure but fairness a reflection of CAFs growing commitment to world-class standards.
With the stakes as high as ever, Africas playoff showdowns promise tension, quality, and history in the making guided by rules designed to ensure the continents best rise on merit alone.