Africa’s lineup for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has been confirmed, with nine nations securing their places at next year’s global showpiece to be staged across Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
The qualified teams are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Cape Verde.
The qualifiers produced a compelling mix of African powerhouses and historic debutants, as Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the first time.
The island nation became only the second smallest country ever to reach the World Cup finals, following Iceland’s remarkable feat in 2018.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast and South Africa marked their return to the world stage after years of absence, joining continental giants Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia, who continued their consistent streak of World Cup appearances — a testament to the growing strength and stability of African football.
Reigning African champions Ivory Coast and Tunisia were particularly impressive, completing their qualification campaigns without conceding a single goal, showcasing defensive discipline and tactical efficiency.
The nine group winners automatically booked their tickets to the finals, while Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon — the four best second-placed teams — will battle in a CAF playoff tournament in Morocco this November.
The winner of that mini-tournament will earn a place in the inter-confederation playoffs, keeping alive the continent’s hopes of securing a record 10th African spot at the tournament.
