With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted across Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Africa has nine spots up for grabs following the expansion of the tournament from 32 to 48 teams. African nations are competing fiercely for a place in the global showpiece.
This edition of the qualifiers features a new format, with CAF eliminating the traditional preliminary round that saw lower-ranked teams play two-legged ties. Instead, all 54 entrants were placed directly into a larger group stage, split into nine pools of six teams each. Eritrea’s late withdrawal in November 2023 reduced Group E to just five teams.
The first round of matches took place from 15 to 21 November 2023, with rounds three and four played in June 2024. After more than 100 matches, several groups are beginning to take shape. Ghana, in particular, has benefited from the latest fixtures. After earning just three points from their first two games, the Black Stars won both of their round three and four matches, moving into second place in Group I and putting their qualification firmly in their own hands. With two games remaining against Chad, Ghana is now well-positioned to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
Other traditional powerhouses have also asserted their dominance. Egypt, Cameroon, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia lead their respective groups, while surprise performers such as Sudan, Rwanda, and Comoros occupy first place in theirs.
Conversely, Nigeria has struggled. The Super Eagles, 2023 AFCON finalists, have yet to find stability under new management and currently have only three points from four games. They face a difficult path to qualification and will now need other results to go their way.
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers also scheduled in 2024, the remaining six matchdays of World Cup qualifying will be spread across the international windows in March, September, and October 2025. Historically, only 13 African countries have competed at the World Cup, but the expansion to nine guaranteed spots offers a real chance for debutants to make history.
The winner of each group will advance directly to the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Meanwhile, the four best-ranked second-placed teams will get a final opportunity to qualify through an intercontinental play-off in March 2026, which will determine the last two African representatives at the tournament.
