The upcoming World Cup, scheduled for 2026, promises to be historic in many ways. For the first time since the South Korea-Japan edition in 2002, the tournament will be co-hosted by multiple nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This unprecedented arrangement confirms an ongoing trend in modern football: co-hosting. This principle will also be applied in 2030, with a trio of Morocco, Spain, and Portugal, marking a new era where major competitions result from collaboration between nations.
On the African continent, nine nations have already secured their spots for the 2026 World Cup: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, and Ivory Coast. While most of these teams are regulars in major competitions, Cape Verde surprises by securing its very first World Cup qualification. This historic achievement illustrates the steady progress of football across the entire continent.
In addition to these nine qualifiers, four nations will still compete for their places through playoffs: Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Competitive matches are ahead, where every detail will matter, as the margin between these teams is minimal.
This edition is set to be a turning point for African football. Africa is no longer advancing as a resigned underdog. It now asserts itself with full status. Morocco, a semi-finalist in Qatar in 2022, has blazed a trail. Senegal, the winner of CAN 2021, has confirmed its rise through several prestigious friendly matches: a 4-2 victory against Brazil, followed by a 3-1 success against England at the iconic City Ground, home of Nottingham Forest. These performances remind us that African teams are no longer just here to ‘participate’: they are here to compete, with clear ambitions and solid foundations.
