Submit your Article

Morocco will host Africa’s four-team World Cup playoffs next month which offer the possibility of an additional place at next year’s finals in North America, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed, Reuters reported.

All winners of the nine African qualifying groups advance to the finals in Canada, Mexico and the U.S. next June, but there is also a route for a potential extra place for one of the four best runners-up.

They will play a mini tournament in Morocco in November to determine a single team that will go on to compete in an inter-continental playoff in March for a place in the 48-team field at the 2026 World Cup, according to Reuters.

Memphis Depay extended his Netherlands scoring record as they cruised to an easy 4-0 win over Finland in their World Cup qualifier on Sunday to move a step closer to booking a berth at next year’s finals, Reuters reported.

The victory kept them comfortably in the lead in Group G with 16 points from six games, six more than Poland, who play later on Sunday at Lithuania.

Donyell Malen got the scoring going at the Johan Cruyff Arena with an eighth-minute strike, followed by a header from Virgil van Dijk nine minutes later, according to Reuters.

Scotland's Che Adams and Scott McTominay scored in each half to beat Belarus 2-1 on Sunday, provisionally rising to the top of Group D in the World Cup qualifiers with 10 points from four matches, Reuters reported.

Denmark, who have seven points from three matches, play third-placed Greece later in the day in a bid to reclaim top spot. The group winners qualify for the 2026 World Cup, while the runners-up progress to playoffs.

Bottom side Belarus pressed the hosts early, earning three corners in the first 10 minutes with a Pavel Zabelin header going just over the crossbar, according to Reuters.

Denmark beat Greece 3-1 at home on Sunday to keep their unbeaten World Cup qualification campaign on track and end the visitors' hopes of reaching next year's tournament, with the battle for Group C supremacy set to go down to the wire, Reuters reported.

With two matches still to play, Denmark top the standings with 10 points, ahead of Scotland on goal difference. The two sides meet in their final fixture next month with the group winners earning automatic qualification for the tournament finals and the runners-up going into the playoffs.

Both the Danes and Scotland are guaranteed at least a playoff spot but Greece, who sit third with three points, have no hope of progressing, according to Reuters.