Djibouti–Egypt World Cup qualifier moved to Morocco

The Djibouti Football Federation has confirmed that its national team will face Egypt in Morocco on Matchday 9 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The decision comes after Djibouti turned down a request from the Egyptian Football Association to stage the fixture in Cairo. Officials cited the lack of a Confederation of African Football (CAF)-approved stadium in Djibouti as the reason for moving the encounter to a neutral venue.

Egypt enter the clash with a clear objective. A single point from the fixture would be enough to secure their place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The Pharaohs, one of Africa’s most decorated footballing nations, are seeking to underline their dominance in the group by sealing qualification with a match to spare.

For Djibouti, the challenge is considerable. While their campaign has already been marked by difficulties, the fixture represents both a test of resilience and an opportunity to measure themselves against one of the continent’s most formidable sides.

Playing away from home, even on neutral soil, is another obstacle for a team that continues to build experience at this level.

The Djibouti Football Federation’s stance reflects wider efforts by CAF to ensure that all matches in the qualifiers meet international standards for safety and infrastructure.

With no CAF-approved stadium currently available in Djibouti, hosting duties have been shifted abroad, a move that highlights the challenges smaller footballing nations face in balancing ambition with facilities.

Meanwhile, for Egyptian supporters, the announcement means they will have to follow their team from afar rather than witnessing a potential qualification moment on home soil.

Despite this, the fixture is expected to draw strong interest, given what is at stake for the Pharaohs.

With World Cup qualification within reach, Egypt will approach the game knowing that even a cautious performance could be enough to secure progress.

Djibouti, however, will look to defy the odds and delay celebrations, seeking to frustrate their more illustrious opponents.

As Matchday 9 approaches, the spotlight is firmly on Morocco, which will now play host to a decisive clash that could determine Egypt’s return to football’s biggest stage.