The African continent will once again take center stage at the upcoming 2026 World Cup, set to be held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. With the qualifying phase now complete, the nine national teams that will represent Africa at the tournament are confirmed — in what will be the first edition played under the expanded 48-team format.

Africa expands its World Cup presence

With the increase in slots per confederation, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) will have nine direct berths and one additional spot to be decided through an intercontinental playoff. A total of 53 teams competed in the qualifiers, divided into nine groups. The winners of each group earned direct qualification, while the four best second-place finishers will face off in playoffs to determine who goes to the intercontinental repechage.

The nine qualified nations are: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. Africa will once again boast strong representation, combining experienced teams with emerging powers that have made history.

Among the qualifiers, Morocco will aim to replicate its Qatar 2022 heroics, when it reached the semifinals — the best result ever achieved by an African team at a World Cup. Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, booked its place with a 3–0 win over Djibouti, while Algeria did the same with a commanding 3–0 victory over Somalia, sealing its return to the world’s elite.

Cape Verde and Senegal, symbols of African pride

The biggest revelation was Cape Verde, which qualified for the World Cup for the first time in its history. Under the guidance of Pedro Leitão Brito “Bubista”, the team achieved a historic 3–0 victory over Eswatini, sparking nationwide celebrations. The government even declared the day a national holiday to commemorate the achievement, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence.

Meanwhile, Senegal, led by Sadio Mané, cruised past Mauritania with a 4–0 win to secure its third consecutive World Cup appearance, reinforcing its status as one of Africa’s strongest sides. Ivory Coast also stood out, with goals from Franck Kessié and Amad Diallo, marking its return to the world stage after a 12-year absence.

Meanwhile, teams such as Gabon, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Republic of the Congo still have one last chance — they will compete in the African playoff in November, where only one will claim a World Cup spot.

With its blend of power, talent, and passion, Africa promises to deliver an unforgettable showing at the 2026 World Cup, a tournament that will open a new chapter in the continent’s football history.