For the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, draws for African teams have been made public. For the first time, the continent will be represented by at least nine countries in nine groups of six. This is a result of the FiFA’s new competition format adoption.
Congo Following a draw conducted by former African players on Thursday in Abidjan, the commercial centre of the Ivory Coast, Brazzaville, Tanzania, Niger, and Eritrea finish Group E.
Last December in Qatar, Morocco became the first African or Arab nation to advance to the World Cup semifinals before falling to France and finishing fourth.
They appear to be the likely section winners with Zambia posing the most challenge thanks to the availability of stars from Europe like Yassine Bounou, Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Youssef en-Nesyri.
According to the most recent FIFA rankings, Morocco is the top-ranked African squad, followed by Senegal, the defending Cup of Nations champion, and Tunisia.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo, which competed in the 1974 World Cup while still known as Zaire, poses the largest threat to Senegal in Group B.
Senegal, led by Sadio Mane, is aiming for a third straight appearance at the four-yearly international competition. The next edition is scheduled for mid-2026.
Equatorial Guinea, an up-and-coming power in Africa that defeated the north Africans in a Cup of Nations qualifier last month, is in Group H with Tunisia.
Group C, which includes Zimbabwe, whose FIFA ban for government intervention in football was removed two days ago, will host the match between longtime rivals Nigeria and South Africa.
The only other first-seed to not have advanced to the World Cup is Mali, who will fancy their chances of winning Group I over Ghana after their early exit in Qatar.
- Cameroon struggling
With eight World Cup qualifying appearances, Cameroon holds the African record. However, they have struggled in recent Cup of Nations games, giving Cape Verde and Angola in Group D hope.
Group G seems to favour Algeria, who lost out to Cameroon for a spot in Qatar, with volatile Guinea likely the primary contenders.
Another nation that will be happy with the draw is Ivory Coast, which will host the subsequent Cup of Nations in January and February 2024.
The surprise 2021 Cup of Nations quarterfinalists Gambia may pose the biggest threat to the three-time World Cup qualifiers rather than second-seeded Gabon.
Egypt had a record seven Cup of Nations victories, yet they frequently struggle to qualify for the World Cup, only making it to the final three times.
The Pharaohs, led by Mohamed Salah, are in Group A, where Burkina Faso and Guinea-Bissau could pose a threat.
The number of finalists has increased from 32 in Qatar to 48 in North and Central America, ensuring that Africa will take a record-breaking nine, and probably ten, positions.
Each group winner will automatically qualify, and the top four runners-up advance to the inter-confederation play-offs, where there are two spots available, with the winner.
The confederation play-offs will feature one team from Africa, two from North and Central America, one from Asia, one from South America, and one from Oceania.
There will be two matchdays in Africa this November, two more the next year, and six in 2025.
