Mali's national football team, the Eagles, is preparing for decisive matches in the coming months. As of September 2026, the team is competing in the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
In the World Cup qualifiers, Mali is placed in Group I alongside Ghana, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Comoros, and Chad. The group winners will qualify directly for the tournament, which will be held in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Mali's recent results have kept them in contention, but they face tough away fixtures that could determine their fate.
Meanwhile, the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, to be hosted in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, are also underway. Mali has been drawn in a group with Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, and Eswatini. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the finals.
Fans in Bamako and across the diaspora are eagerly anticipating these matches, which could see Mali return to the World Cup for the first time since 2018. The team's performance in these qualifiers will be crucial for their international standing.
