FIFA
Friday 10 November 2023, 15:00

Statement on FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition

LOS ANGELES, UNITED STATES - MAY 17: The FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy during the FIFA World Cup 26 Official Brand Launch at the Griffith Observatory on May 17, 2023 in Los Angeles, United States. (Photo by Harold Cunningham/FIFA)

FIFA and CAF can confirm that the Eritrean National Football Federation has withdrawn from the FIFA World Cup 2026™ preliminary competition. Following Eritrea’s withdrawal, group E of the CAF qualifiers will be contested by the five remaining teams: Morocco, Zambia, Congo, Tanzania and Niger. All of Eritrea’s matches have been cancelled, while the rest of the match schedule for Group E remains unchanged.