Nine African Nations Book 2026 FIFA World Cup Spots, Playoffs to Decide Final

Nine African teams have secured automatic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking a historic moment for the continent as it prepares to send its largest ever contingent to the global showpiece.

The teams that have sealed their places are Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Cape Verde, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa, a strong lineup featuring both seasoned World Cup campaigners and emerging forces in African football.

The upcoming World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will see an expanded 48 team format, granting Africa ten slots for the first time in the tournament’s history.

The final African berth will be determined through continental playoffs scheduled for next month, involving Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the four best-ranked runners-up from the qualification campaign. The winner of the playoffs will go on to represent Africa in the intercontinental playoff, where they will battle for the last remaining ticket to North America.

Among the qualified nations, Morocco will be making their seventh World Cup appearance after an impressive qualifying run, while South Africa returns to the global stage for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. Cape Verde’s qualification stands out as a milestone moment for the island nation, marking their debut at football’s biggest event.

The strong representation reflects Africa’s continued football growth and the increasing competitiveness of its national teams on the world stage. With powerhouse nations like Egypt, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire joining resurgent sides such as Ghana and South Africa, the continent’s hopes for a deeper World Cup run have never looked brighter.