The countdown is on. With just nine months to go, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is fast approaching.
This edition promises to be historic — not only for its expanded format but also for its unique hosting arrangement. For the first time, the tournament will be jointly staged by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, July 19, 2026.
Next year’s competition will be the biggest World Cup in history, featuring 48 teams vying for football’s most prestigious international trophy.
After months of intense qualification battles across the continent, nine African nations have secured their spots on football’s grandest stage.
The qualifiers delivered a thrilling mix of familiar faces and remarkable firsts. Cape Verde made history by qualifying for the World Cup for the first time, becoming only the second smallest nation ever to reach the finals — following Iceland’s inspiring 2018 debut.
Ivory Coast and South Africa return to the global spotlight after lengthy absences, while African powerhouses Senegal, Morocco, and Tunisia continued to demonstrate their remarkable consistency, reinforcing the continent’s growing strength in world football.
The Black Stars of Ghana also made history, qualifying for their fifth World Cup under the guidance of former player Otto Addo.
The nine African nations heading to the 2026 World Cup are:
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, and Cape Verde.
With some of Africa’s finest teams set to compete, expectations are high. Morocco’s historic semi-final run in 2022 remains a proud moment for the continent — and fans will be hoping one of these nine teams can match, or even surpass, that achievement in 2026.
