The FIFA World Cup 2026 is approaching slowly but surely. In less than a year, Africa, Europe, Oceania, Asia and America will bring their best football teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico to try to win the tournament and thus follow Argentina’s lead, whose squad grabbed the World Cup trophy in 2022 in Qatar against France of Kylian Mbappé.
Qualifiers are pending all over the world, but some teams are already in possession of their ticket for America next year, and these squads can look at tomorrow without too much pressure. On the African continent, who is confident? Who must worry? Who must still struggle until the very end?
For the time being, four African teams are guaranteed to participate in the upcoming World Cup across the Atlantic Ocean, and they are all located in North Africa : indeed, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Egypt validated their ticket over the last couple of days. After 1934, 1990 and 2018, this will be a fourth participation for the Pharaohs of Mohamed Salah. Algeria will take part to the World Cup for the fifth time (1982, 1986, 2010 and 2014).
Morocco will try to confirm a tremendous path in 2022 only stopped by France in semifinals. The best result for an African country so far. For now, the Moroccans are focused on the African cup of nations organized on their lands in the end of the year, with the clear intention to win the cup at home before crossing the Atlantic to face up to the world.
What about sub-Saharan Africa? The last days of qualifiers (October 13 and 14) will tell us everything. Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, South Africa, Nigeria, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Ghana and Madagascar can still dream of a direct qualification for the 2026 World Cup. Five seats remain available for a total of nine African countries directly qualified.
Last but not least, a tenth and ultimate ticket will be available for one of the best second teams of the group phase. After an African tournament gathering four squads among the best second teams, the winner will challenge the representatives of the other confederations during a continental competition. At the end of this winding road, the winner will get the final ticket.
By Guillaume Mahot