African nations have been part of the FIFA World Cup since 1934, when Egypt became the first African team to qualify. Over 90 years, African football has grown significantly, with Morocco's historic semifinal run in 2022 marking the continent's best performance.
As of the 2022 tournament, African teams have participated in 22 World Cups. Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and DR Congo have all qualified at least once. Cameroon was the first African team to reach the quarterfinals in 1990, followed by Senegal in 2002 and Ghana in 2010.
Morocco's 2022 achievement—becoming the first African and Arab nation to reach the semifinals—highlighted the continent's progress. The team defeated Belgium, Spain, and Portugal before losing to France. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico, will feature expanded slots for African teams.
