As of June 29, 2026, nine African national teams have advanced to the round of 16 of the FIFA World Cup, marking a historic achievement for African football. The teams include Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Tunisia, Algeria, and Ivory Coast, according to official FIFA records.
South Africa's journey ended on Sunday evening in the round of 16 after a 0-1 extra-time loss to Canada, who were playing at home. The Bafana Bafana's performance was praised, but they could not overcome the host nation.
This record number of African teams in the knockout stages highlights the growing strength of football on the continent. The round of 16 matches are scheduled to continue through early July, with several African teams still in contention for the quarterfinals.
