2026 World Cup: African teams qualified so far; Their profiles
- With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, here’s a look at the five African nations that have already secured their spots in the expanded 48- team tournament:
1. Algeria (The Desert Foxes)
• Qualification: Secured their spot with a commanding 3-0 victory over Somalia on October 9, 2025.
• Key Stat: The Desert Foxes secured their World Cup berth with a commanding 3–0 win over Somalia on October 9.
2. Egypt (The Pharaohs)
• Qualification: Booked their ticket with a convincing 3-0 win over Djibouti on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, securing qualification with a game to spare.
• Background: After missing out on Qatar 2022, the Pharaohs bounced back strong.
3. Ghana (The Black Stars)
• Qualification: Edged Comoros 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium on Sunday, October 12, 2025.
• Key Player: Skillful dribbler Mohammed Kudus scored the decisive goal.
• World Cup History: This will be the Black Stars’ fifth World Cup appearance.
4. Morocco (The Atlas Lions)
• Qualification: Became the first African team to qualify after a dominant 5-0 victory over Niger in Rabat on Friday, September 5, 2025.
• Group Position: Clinched top spot in Group E with two matches to spare, following Eritrea’s withdrawal from the group.
• World Cup History: This marks Morocco’s third consecutive World Cup appearance and their seventh overall.
5. Tunisia
• Qualification: Secured their place with a stoppage-time winner from Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, sealing a 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea on September 8, 2025.
Significance: Tunisia became the second African team—and the 18th nation overall—to secure a place at the tournament;
Looking Ahead:
The qualification journey is far from over for other African nations. With Africa holding nine automatic qualification spots and one intercontinental playoff slot, competition remains fierce. Group C, in particular, is a hotbed of drama with Benin, South Africa, and Nigeria vying for a spot.
Africa’s remaining teams are set for intense matches in the coming days, as they battle for a chance to compete on the global stage at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
