2026 World Cup: Full List of African Countries That Have Qualified So Far
- Five African football powerhouses have punched their tickets to the 2026 FIFA World Cup
- A blend of grit, class, and tactical brilliance underlined the qualification of these five giants
- The Black Stars of Ghana confirmed their place at the 2026 World Cup with a home victory
The continent's road to the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up, as Ghana and four other African powerhouses sealed their spots on football’s biggest stage.
Each of these African teams sealed qualification in impressive style, underlining their superiority and steady form throughout the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
Source: Getty Images
YEN.com.gh has looked at the full list of African countries that have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup below, in the order they advanced.
African countries qualified for 2026 World Cup
1. Morocco
According to ESPN, Morocco became the first African side to secure a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a flawless run in Group E. The Atlas Lions were dominant, amassing 21 points from seven matches to comfortably lead the standings.
Under coach Walid Regragui, Morocco displayed a perfect mix of tactical discipline and attacking flair, led by stars such as Achraf Hakimi, Sofyan Amrabat, and Hakim Ziyech, confirming that their historic 2022 semi-final run in Qatar was no one-off.
Their final qualifier against Congo on October 14 in Rabat will serve as a victory lap with their passionate home fans.
Over the past year, Morocco has solidified their place as Africa’s benchmark for football excellence, with many expecting the North Africans to make another deep run at the 2026 World Cup.
2. Tunisia
Tunisia once again proved their remarkable consistency on the international stage by finishing atop Group H with 22 points from eight games. The Carthage Eagles relied on their trademark defensive structure and team cohesion, qualities that have defined their football for years.
Coach Sami Trabelsi’s blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging stars ensured a smooth road to their seventh World Cup appearance.
While other teams fought hard for qualification in the final rounds, Tunisia’s composed displays made their path look effortless. Fans are now eager to see what they can deliver next summer across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
3. Egypt
Egypt became the third African nation to book its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 3–0 victory over Djibouti in Casablanca on October 8. Skipper Mohamed Salah led by example, netting twice to secure a fifth World Cup appearance for the Pharaohs.
According to Al Jazeera, the North Africans impressed with a balance of solid defence and clinical attacking play. Salah’s leadership, complemented by the efforts of Omar Marmoush and Mostafa Mohamed, has reignited national optimism about another strong World Cup campaign.
This qualification serves as redemption for Egypt after narrowly missing out on the 2022 tournament, reaffirming their place among Africa’s elite footballing nations.
4. Algeria
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations champions sealed their qualification last Thursday, October 9, with a 3-0 away victory against Somalia.
It took seven minutes for Wolfsburg's Mohamed Amoura to put Les Fennecs ahead.
Skipper Riyad Mahrez made it 2-0 in the 19th before Amoura sealed his brace with a 57th-minute strike to confirm Algeria's participation next year.
5. Ghana
Punching their ticket for their fifth World Cup appearance, the Black Stars defeated Comoros 1-0 at the Accra Sports Stadium on October 12, as Mohammed Kudus netted the only goal of the encounter.
Otto Addo's men had trounced the Central African Republic 5-0 in their previous qualifier played in Morocco before concluding their 2026 World Cup qualification tournament with a slim home triumph, which saw them top Group I with 23 points in 10 games to secure their World Cup spot.
Source: Twitter
6. Cape Verde
The latest addition to the African qualifiers was Cape Verde, who defeated Eswatini 3-0 at home on Monday, October 13, to advance.
According to the BBC, the Blue Sharks have become the second-smallest country to seal their place at the FIFA World Cup, after Iceland.
Africa's other WC qualifier groups still open
In the remaining groups, Senegal and DR Congo are in a tight race for the Group B qualification spot, while the Benin Republic leads South Africa in a close Group C battle.
According to FIFA, Ivory Coast and Gabon could advance in Group F, while the other hopefuls would keep a close eye on the runners-up rankings to know their fates.
20 qualified teams for 2026 World Cup
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Earlier, YEN.com.gh also examined the list of 20 nations that have already secured 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification.
Football giants like Argentina and Brazil have already booked their places for the 48-team tourney in North America next year.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
