On the eve of the 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extended his best wishes to the ten African national teams participating in the tournament. In a statement released on June 12, 2026, Youssouf expressed confidence in the teams' abilities to represent the continent with distinction.
The ten African nations qualified for the 2026 World Cup are: Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ivory Coast, and South Africa. This marks the largest representation of African teams in a single World Cup, following the expansion of the tournament to 48 teams.
Youssouf's message highlighted the unity and potential of African football, urging the teams to showcase the continent's talent and sportsmanship. The 2026 World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches scheduled from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
