Nine African national teams have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking the continent's largest-ever representation in the tournament's history. The qualified teams are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Ghana, and Mali. This surpasses the previous record of five African participants set in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams for the 2026 edition, to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, allowed for an increased number of slots for all confederations. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) was allocated nine direct qualifying spots, plus one additional spot for an inter-confederation playoff.
The qualification process concluded in late 2025, with the final matches determining the teams that secured their places. The record number of qualifiers is seen as a significant milestone for African football, highlighting the growing competitiveness and talent across the continent.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is scheduled to begin in June 2026. The tournament's expanded format will feature a new group stage structure, with the nine African teams aiming to improve upon the continent's best-ever performanceβa semi-final finish by Morocco in 2022.
