The draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup group stage, held Friday at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, has set the path for Africa’s nine qualified teams in the tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This expanded edition features 48 teams, giving the continent its largest-ever representation.
Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, and Ivory Coast have all been placed across the 12 groups of four. The Democratic Republic of Congo could join as a tenth African representative if it wins its upcoming playoff, underscoring the continent’s widening footprint on the global football stage.
Morocco stands out as Africa’s lone Pot 2 team, benefiting from its strong recent performances and earning a seeded status that many analysts believe could translate into a more favorable group. The remaining African sides—Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, South Africa, Senegal, and Cape Verde—enter from Pot 3.
With each nation now aware of its opponents, attention shifts to preparation and strategy. Africa enters the 2026 World Cup with both confidence and expectation, looking to surpass its historic 2022 semifinals breakthrough and deliver its strongest collective showing yet.
